Department of Parks
Effort To Preserve Civil War Flag To Be Held at Perryville

PERRYVILLE, Ky. – A special fundraising effort to conserve an aging Civil War flag will be held during the Battle of Perryville reenactment on Oct. 7-8.

Money will be collected to help conserve a flag that belonged to the 18^th Infantry U.S. Regiment. The regiment fought at Perryville and placed the battle honor on the flag “Chaplin Hills” – another name used for Perryville. The flag, which will be shown at the museum at Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, dates from after the 1862 battle, but veterans of Perryville marched under this banner.

The preservation effort is a joint effort by the Kentucky State Parks and Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association. Approximately $25,000 is needed to conserve and prepare the flag for display.

Anyone interested in contributing may contact the association at 859-332-1862. The mailing address is: Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association, P.O. Box 65, Perryville, KY 40468. Information is also available at:

http://www.perryvillereenactment.org/pv-preservation.php

As part of the fundraising effort, reenactors will be conducting a “preservation march” during their stay at Perryville in October. The marchers will follow the route by Union Major General Alexander McCook’s I Corps to the battlefield. Each marcher’s registration fee will be put toward the conservation effort.

Chad Greene, a reenactor who lives in Perryville and has served as a park volunteer since 1983, is organizing this year’s march.

“Thanks to Chad and many other reenactor groups, we’re able to preserve historical items such as this flag as well as battlefields such as Perryville,” said Chris Kolakowski, executive director of the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association. “These groups play a key role in preserving our past.”

This year’s Battle of Perryville reenactment is serving as the national Civil War reenactment and is expected to draw more than 5,000 participants.

More information, including the schedule, is available by going to the Department of Parks web site at www.parks.ky.gov and clicking the Battle of Perryville 2006 logo.

Advance tickets are being sold through Sept. 22 with a $3 discount available for one-day and two-day adult tickets. One-day tickets are $15 and two-day tickets are $20 for adults at the gate. Children ages 6-12 are $5 (second day free) and children 5 and under are free. Advance ticket holders can also bypass the main admission line.

Call the park at 859-332-8631 to order tickets or go to the Perryville web site. Information is also available at: http://www.perryvillereenactment.org/

Visitors are encouraged to arrive early because of the time it takes to park and get to the state park. Parking will take place at Perryville in Boyle County and the admission ticket includes a bus ride to the park. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a chair.

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