Where have the flags been since the Civil War?
The battle flags have a long and interesting history. Here are some of the significant events in their existence: • Civil War flags were exhibited at a “State Sanitary Fair” held in Kalamazoo to raise funds for the care of sick and wounded soldiers. The Ladies’ Soldiers’ Aid Society of Kalamazoo sponsored the fair September 20-24, 1864. No objects in the “Fair” seemed to excite so much of interest and fix the attention of the thousands who visited the “Sanitary Hall” as the torn and battle-scarred banners which had been born by the regiments of Michigan during the war, and which had been kindly furnished from the Adjutant General’s office. As the multitude gazed on these silent emblems of the brave deeds of the men of Michigan, again and again was heard from mother and father the exclamation, as the flag of some particular regiment was noted, “My son fought under that banner!” and not unfrequently the sad, accompanying remark, “he fell in battle,” or “died in hospital.” (Michigan in th
