A Special Day of Commemoration
In 1909, Michigan Civil War veterans placed the flags of their regiments in display cases in the rotunda of the State Capitol in Lansing. The flags, later replaced with replicas, provide state officials and thousands of Capitol visitors with a striking reminder of this historic conflict and commemorate the Michigan men and their families, who sacrificed so much to save the Union and end slavery. In a very emotional and moving day of activities, 80 descendants of Civil War soldiers and supporters of Save the Flags bore the flags down the city streets of Lansing, up the front steps of the Capitol and then lovingly placed the replica flags in the cases in the rotunda, where they will stand as mute testimony to service and sacrifice for future generations of Michiganders. Save the Flags would like to extend our gratitude to all our wonderful color bearer descendants, supporters of the flags, the SVR color guard, Brigadier General Ravi Wagh, the Michigan Army National Guard, the 126th Michigan National Guard band and all attendees for their support of the event.
