FLAGS FOREVER

Illinois still has its Civil War regimental fl ags and, although most of them have been in storage for decades due to degradation, they’ve still been open for public viewing. The catch was that you had to know they were there. Now, those 150-year-old fl ags and others from Illinois’ military history are going back on public display in a new display case at the Illinois State Military Museum, 1301 N. MacArthur Blvd. Museum curator Bill Lear says the display will feature fl ags from as far back as the Mexican-American War, which followed the U.S.’s annexation of Texas in 1845. “This case allows us to pull out some very rare items for the public to see,” he said. The fi rst fl ag planned for display is the 90th Illinois Infantry “Irish Legion” fl ag, which was fl own by a regiment of Irish-born immigrants from Illinois who joined the Union forces during the Civil War. Retired Brig. Gen. Stewart Reeve of Springfi eld, director of the museum, says the fl ag was chosen in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. If you’ve never been to this hidden gem, expect to be wowed by more than just the historical fl ags. The museum collects military items ranging in age from Illinois’ earliest confl icts up to present-day overseas operations. They’re open 1p.m. to 4:30p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Call them at 761-3910.