As the nation pauses Friday to honor Veterans Day, Iolan Barbara Sherwood takes note of an often overlooked measure taken to honor those who have served.
More than 40 types of flag holders are used to support American or other flags during holidays such as Veterans Day, Sherwood notes.
The flag holders may mark the time or the branches in which the veteran served.
Others may simply say “GAR” for the Grand Army of the Republic, for Civil War veterans.
The flag holders date back to the GAR in 1874, which sought to preserve the memory of those who fought and died in the Civil War.
The topic carries special meaning for Sherwood, who has six generations (and counting) of her family who place flags in each holder during holidays.
Her father, Delmar Sherwood, was a World War II veteran.
Delmar Sherwood’s great-grandson, Jonathan Rodewald, compiled the flag holder information this summer for a 4-H poster during the Allen County Fair.
Flag holders mark vets’ graves
