Why Veteran flag holders and types?

Prior to the end of the Civil War, military veterans’ graves were often marked by the families with flowers, flags or other mementos of their service. After the Civil War, the Union veterans’ organization, The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), instituted a standard “Star-shaped” bronze, upright, flag-holder for the soldier’s gravesite.

In subsequent wars, the shape and inscription changed on the bronze emblems on the flag-holder to uniquely distinguish from previous conflicts. This method prominently and clearly, even as seen from a distance, indicates a veteran’s service period. For example, the shape of the bronze emblem for Spanish-American War veteran’s flag-holder is the “Cross-shape”. See the adjacent gallery for descriptions of all military veteran flag holders used in the cemetery.