GAR mourning ribbon?

[major bill]

From the Michigan History Museum.

A nice ribbon from my home town. Did the GAR make one of these for each member who died or wear the same ribbon over and over as each member died?

 

[major bill]

Another Michigan GAR ribbon on display made of black.

 

[AndyHall]

"Chas . T. Foster" was the name of the GAR post.

 

[major bill]

A couple more Michigan GAR items on display at the Michigan History Museum. Note the miniature canteen in the bottom image.

 

[major bill]

"Chas . T. Foster" was the name of the GAR post.

Was these worn for mourning the loss of a member?

 

[major bill]

All these veterans wearing all these ribbons makes me feel bad I have not even went to the local VFW post in over two years. Still I am glad I do not have to march in too many parades (well we get to ride on a trailer so we really do not march).

 

[AndyHall]

It's a memorial of some sort. Maybe a ribbon worn for funeral services rather than a bright one for most other occasions.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Not arguing, but is that a canteen? It looks like the GAR pin we have which belonged to my great, great grandfather, 126th OVI. Maybe it's a canteen with the GAR emblem on it, thinking about it.

These are wonderful whatever their purpose. For some reason there's not a lot of discussion on the GAR, wish there were. Love to know more.

 

[major bill]

One of the GAR symbolic items was the concept of a shared canteen. This was represented by miniature canteens. These canteens were made in various sizes. Some canteen souvenirs were almost half the size of a real canteen. The GAR also used a miniature GAR hat as a souvenir.

If you look at the small pin in the bottom of post #4 you can see the pin is in the shape of a Civil War canteen.