Made of white metal, the upper pin bar has small a small colored US flat at left and Confederate battleflag at right. “1863-1913” appears in an arch and “souvenir” in a straight panel at bottom. The red, white and blue ribbon suspends a medal made with a semblance of the GAR medal eagle and cannon top bar with a miniature G.A.R. star at the bottom. A wreath around the outer edge is interrupted by an oval with U.S. flag at left and CS third national at right. The center has portrait busts of Meade and Lee facing one another with their names underneath. Overhead is “50^th Anniversary” and below is “Battle of Gettysburg.” The condition is very good. The ribbon has good color and no tears. The pin is in place on the reverse of the top bar.

The use of the G.A.R. motifs along with the CS flags is interesting since the 50^th Anniversary commemoration focused on the theme of reconciliation, but Union veterans had long had a problem with the flags of former enemies being displayed at proposed joint reunions. This was a commercial piece, so it was a matter of taste on the part of the maker and a buyer, but it is an interesting piece of our history.  [ad] [ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.