Civil War memorabilia on display at Historical Society

An exhibit opens at the State Historical Building in Des Moines tomorrow, on Veteran’s Day, that honors the G-A-R, or the Grand Army of the Republic. That’s the name the Union army took after the Civil War and the G-A-R had a large contingent in Iowa.Jack Lufkin is chief curator for the State Historical Society of Iowa. This display of G-A-R memorabilia will include banners and flags from the 19th and 20th centuries. Lufkin says it’s an extensive display. He says they would have an annual meeting in Iowa and the memorabilia comes from those meetings.Besides the objects on display, there will be some “real live” uniformed members of the Sons of Union Veterans to present the colors, or flags, at the exhibit’s grand opening.For more information, call the State Historical Society at (515) 281-6058.