The Boohers and Dr. French Visit Flags
Save the Flags was honored to host Andrew and Chad Booher for a return visit to the museum flag storage unit, with a special guest from Big Rapids. Dr. Donald French is descended from six Michigan brothers who fought with the 1st, the 7th and 27th Michigan Infantry Regiments. His great-great grandfather (pictured below) was Sergeant William Ferdinand Bowdish who fought with Company D of the 27th Michigan Infantry. William Bowdish was taken prisoner at the battle of Weldon Railroad, south of Petersburg, Virginia on August 21, 1864. He spent the rest of the war as a P.O.W. at Salisbury Prison in North Carolina. Many thanks to the Boohers for connecting Save the Flags with Dr. French and many thanks to Dr. French for his support of the project.
(left) Dr. Donald French with the flag of the 7th Michigan Infantry Regiment. (center) Dr. Donald French with one of the four flags of the 27th Michigan. He is also holding the diary and image of Sergeant Bowdish. (right) Sergeant William Ferdinand Bowdish.