For more than a century, the Ionia County Courthouse has been home to a piece of American Civil War history — a battle flag sewn by local women and carried by men who formed a volunteer Union regiment.

In 1862, 18 counties in Michigan joined together to form the 21st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, based in Ionia. Eric Calley, the VFW Muir-Lyons Post 4646 commander, said the flag was created by the Ladies of Ionia, a group of mothers and sisters of the Union soldiers.

He said the flag was carried during 13 different battles, and when the regiment returned to Ionia on July 4, 1865, the commander told the state of Michigan that it could have four of the five flags the regiment carried, but members wanted to keep and preserve the one made by the Ladies of Ionia.

"We, the people, ou

See Full Page