Although the last 250 years have seen drastic and nearly constant changes in the American flag, the message they convey is still the same, and a new exhibit at the Quartermaster Museum displays that.

“It’s a Grand Old Flag,” the newest exhibit, showcases multiple American flags dating back as early as the 1820s.

“We just thought that the American flag symbolizes the courage of the soldier,” said museum curator Luther Hanson. “It embodies what is going on in the world.”

When patrons first walk into the exhibit, they will see a 12 foot high by 18 foot long worn flag that was flown above a building in Harrisburg, Pa., from 1861 to 1866. “It was used all over the place to symbolize, in this case, the Union,” said Hanson.

Other flags that American citizens used during the Civil War include one that had a “battalion pattern,” or the circular star patterns within the blue section of the flag. Hanson said it was an extremely popular pattern during the Civil War.

Even during that era, stars were added to the flag for each southern state. One flag depicts 37 stars for the 37 states at the time.

“It’s a symbol of freedom all around the world,” Hanson said. “It’s been the symbol of freedom for all Americans, not just at home, but overseas.”

One display in the exhibit, an oil painting entitled “Saving the Flag” by artist Thomas Nast, depicts a 45-star flag flown at the Consulate in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1898 during the Spanish-American war.

Hanson said that although the selection may initially appear random that there were reasons each of the flags was on display in the exhibit.

“We were looking for early flags, flags that had stories,” he said. Others were selected because of their beauty.

Regardless of the story behind each flag, Hanson said they each hold the same meaning today they did 200 years ago.

“These flags mean America,” he said. “It still means freedom and democracy. We have the same meaning today as it did back then.”

Hanson said that after 9/11 and before the war in Iraq many people displayed the American flag, but as the years have passed many people no longer have that same pride in the flag.

“Let’s give them a good shot in the arm of the American flag again,” he said.

• Lindsay Simpson may be reached at 732-3456, ext. 272 or lsimpson@progress-index.com.