Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) souvenir medals

Description:	Also known as the War Between the States, the Civil War divided friends and relatives against each other. At the end of the war, soldiers returned home but missed the friendship of fellow soldiers. Many soldiers joined the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) for camaraderie and later for a political voice. Each year beginning in 1866, members met at a State or National Encampment. These medals are souvenirs of the Indiana Encampments at Richmond, Indiana in 1897 and Evansville, Indiana in 1916. Washington, D.C. hosted the 36th National Encampment in 1902. Richard M. Smock a Private in the 70th Indiana Infantry attended these events and collected these souvenirs.
Source:	http://www.digitalindy.org/cdm/ref/collection/tcm/id/1948
Collection:	The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Rights:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/;
Copyright:	Creative Commons (CC By-SA 3.0);
Subjects:	United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Indiana Grand Army of the Republic Indiana Souvenirs (Keepsakes) Richmond (Ind.) Evansville (Ind.) Military decorations Decorations of Honor

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