I was in Gettysburg last summer working on a special assignment relating to the anniversary of the start of the Civil War. While I was there I stopped into a little shop that specialized in authentic Gettysburg items. This wasn't some cheap roadside stand selling plastic replicas for a couple of bucks; the items for sale in the shop were taken directly from the battlefield and cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.
In one of the display cases was the battered uniform of a Union soldier who lost his life at Gettysburg. Though the garment had begun to deteriorate after 100 years I noticed the embroidered patch on the shoulder which seemed to be fairly intact; the four bars clearly showing the owner was a captain.
As I stood there looking at the uniform I could not help but feel the impact of history. The patch stood out as a testimony to the memory of those brave men; one that will stand forever. During one of the most difficult times in U.S. history Blue and Gray freely sacrificed their lives to protect the principles they believed in. Some of the old military patches I have from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam speak just as loudly as what I saw in Gettysburg.
If you're history buff like me you might consider starting a collection of embroidered military patches. Consider getting some stock patches from a company like The Cheap Place just to get started. From there you can build your collection by shopping around at antique shops, searching on the Internet, and attending battle reenactments and other historical displays. If you're anything like me, those old military patches will have a great impact on you.
