The Ionia Courthouse & Flag of the 21st
A flag of the 21st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment that was displayed in the Ionia Courthouse is being returned to Michigan after 1.5 years of conservation work at Textile Preservation Associates in West Virginia. Save the Flags was honored in assisting and offering advice to the Ionia community in the conservation of this very beautiful and important presentation battle flag.
The collaborative project between Save the Flags and the VFW Muir-Lyons Post made quite a few news headlines!
“'It's our rich history' 1860s Civil War battle flag to return to Ionia” -Lansing State Journal
“After Months in preservation, rare Civil War Flag makes its triumphant return in Ionia” -WKAR
“Civil War battle flag returns to Ionia County Courthouse” -WLNS
“Ionia VFW completes restoration of Civil War battle flag” -WILX
(left) Save the Flags Director Matt VanAcker speaking about the flag prior to its conservation. Note the purple patches throughout the flag where net has been added to fill in missing portions of the original flag. (right) Picture of the conserved flag with Mr. Eric Calley, Post Commander, Lyons VFW.