Our nation’s Civil War battle flags may not survive due to state budget cuts. The Ohio Historical Society has over 400 Civil War battle flags but the government has not provided funding for their preservation in nearly a decade. Other states such as New York, Indiana and Pennsylvania are facing budget cuts which will severely hinder their ability to preserve these delicate flags. According to a conservator, the cost of conserving a flag will be between $6,000 and $30,000 for a Civil War silk battle flag depending on the condition and size of the flag.

Without preservation funds, historical organizations may be reluctant to use their battle flags in Civil War sesquicentennial events.

For information about the Ohio Historical Society’s “Save the Flags Campaign” click here and for the flag digitization project visit “Fight for the Colors”.

Read the recent AP article “Battle flag preservation efforts hit by money woes”.