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Civil War-era flag takes center stage in Gettysburg

A rare American flag flown over Gettysburg in 1863 is now on public display for the first time at the Beyond the Battle Museum, serving as the centerpiece of the "Spirit of 1776" exhibit.
In 1863, a young man named Daniel Skelly grabbed the flag and ran to his store's roof to welcome Union troops as they marched through Gettysburg. The artifact remained carefully preserved in archives for over 160 years.
Tattered, torn, and tarnished with wear, the flag hangs as a "silent reminder of history," according to Andrew Dalton, the president of Gettysburg History. "Until today, it's been in a box in our archives," Dalton said.
The exhibit opening coincides with the fourth annual Gettysburg Film Festival, where director Jake Boritt, the director of the Gettysburg Film Festival, stated that American victory over the British Empire was "a stunning moment in world history."
As the country approaches its 250th anniversary, the flag serves as a reminder of the nation's journey; historian Tim Smith noted the flag was donated to the historical society by Daniel Skelly Jr., the original flag-bearer's son.

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