Greetings,
Each year, I try to visit the grave of Samuel Bloomer in Stillwater, Minnesota. Sam was the color bearer of the 1st Minnesota Vol. Inf.

His cast iron marker has had a flag on it as long as I can remember. I try to replace it with a fresh flag each year, but the locals seem to keep a nice flag on it all the time.

Sam was wounded at the battle of Antietam and lost his leg as a result.

I thought folks might enjoy seeing some photos of this unique monument so am attaching an image to this posting. and the next.

John A-G
Iola, Wisconsin