STATEHOUSE (Feb. 8, 2013) – Legislation authored by State Sens. Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis) and Allen Paul (R-Richmond) to protect and preserve Indiana’s battle flags passed the full Senate on Thursday by a 49-0 vote.

Merritt said, with more than 400 flags, Indiana has one of the largest collections of state battle flags in the country. They are currently housed in the Indiana War Memorial in Indianapolis. Senate Bill 323 allows a fund previously created to preserve only Civil War battle flags to also be used to preserve other Indiana battle flags.

“By appropriately caring for these flags and bringing them to the public, generations of Hoosiers will be able to experience these integral pieces of Indiana history from the War with Mexico, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I and more,” Merritt said. “Right now, the flags are kept in basement vaults, protected, but completely restricted from citizens.”

Paul added that Indiana is, however, very fortunate to have a particularly large collection of Civil War battle flags. These were carried by Hoosier soldiers and intricately woven for individual Indiana regiments. Originally used in the war as position markers and rallying points, they became sources of inspiration for soldiers. 

“Restoring these battle flags is a nod to veterans of years past,” Paul said. “Very few states in our nation have the opportunity to do this because they don’t know where their Civil War battle flags are or if there are even any left. This is a simple way to honor the more than 24,000 Hoosiers who gave their lives in the war to preserve the Union.”

Retired Brig. Gen. J. Stewart Goodwin, Executive Director of the Indiana War Memorials, supports SB 323 and the effort to save this part of Indiana’s historical heritage. His ultimate goal is to make these Indiana battle flags available to every county courthouse in the state.

“This is history, and nothing is more important than preserving it,” Goodwin said. “One hundred years from now, these flags might be the only material pieces Hoosier families will have to remember the stories they’ve heard about our country’s heritage and Indiana’s part in that. You can’t rebuild history once it’s gone.”

SB 323 will now move to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

 -30-