Guidon Flag Dedication

The DuPage County Historical Museum will honor the newly restored, 8th Illinois Cavalry Guidon Civil War flag with a display of historic military skills and a dedication service on Sunday, July1st in Wheaton.

This free event begins at 1pm in Adams Park just north of the museum and includes a manual of arms drill, saber presentation and weapons firing by members of the 8th Illinois Cavalry Re-enactors. The dedication ceremony for the guidon, a specialized military flag or banner often used for signaling, will be held immediately following the outdoor presentation in the museum auditorium. At 2pm, Civil War historian and author, Marshall Krolick, will speak on the history of the 8th Illinois Calvary. The public is welcome to attend.

Restoration of the flag began last August at the Peebles Island Resource Center in New York. A total of $20,000 was raised to fund the work through the combined efforts of the DuPage County Historical Museum, the Illinois State Military Musuem, the Illinois National Guard and Militia Historical Society and the 8th Illinois Calvalry Reenactors.

The 8th Illinois Calvary Guidon is one of two restored civil war flags currently on view at the DuPage County Historical Museum. Fewer than ten restored Civil War flags are on view in the state of Illinois. The guidon will remain at the DuPage County Historical Museum through February, 2015, on loan from the Illinois State Military Museum.

Wheaton’s Adams Park is located at the intersection of Main and Seminary, directly north of the DuPage Historical Museum. To learn more about the guidon dedication and other events, visit the DuPage County Historical Museum at 102 E. Wesley Avenue, Wheaton or online at www.dupagemuseum.org. Phone 630.510.4941. Admission is free. Donations welcome.