The “Lincoln Flag” has actually gone through various tests to be called authentic. The color dyes used to make the flag were from the Civil War period. The blood stain was confirmed to be human blood and a contact stain showed that it was from a head wound that came in contact with the banner. Abraham Lincoln suffered the same head trauma when he was shot that fateful night on April 14, 1865.
In 1996, Joseph E. Garrera, president of the Lincoln Group of New York, finished a study covering the authenticity of an American flag that had 36 stars and stained with blood. The Lincoln Group is an organization that focuses to study the life and events surrounding Abe Lincoln. The flag was important during the incidents of April 14, since it was used to lay Lincoln’s head down after he was mortally shot by John Booth. Garrera’s findings were later published in a document entitled, “THE LINCOLN FLAG OF THE PIKE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY”. It declared that the flag was the real thing.
The flag was quite common at the time, although it only had 36 stars to represent each state at the time. It has become an important part of history, because it still bears the blood of one of America’s greatest presidents. The flag has been preserved and has become an American heirloom.
Thomas Gourlay was tasked to take care of the flag through the decades. Mr. Struthers, Gourlay’s grandson, donated the flag to The Pike County Historical Society in 1954. The “Lincoln Flag” was placed by Gourlay himself under the head of the president when he laid dying on the floor.
Labels: American flags, custom flag, custom flag maker, custom flag. personalized flag, Lincoln flag
by:
The Flagman
