A Pictorial Catalog of Commemorative Plaques & Flagholders  of Military and Organizations as Photographed by  Joyce M. Tice  This page is part of The Tri-County Genealogy & History Site of Joyce M. Tice  Veterans Markers in General

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Dick McCracken has sent in this note.

This document, from the US Dept of Veterans Affairs, contains information on the 11 "official" wars, and the dates used to determine  eligibility for benefits, recognized by Congress and the Executive.  In some cases Veterans organizations such as The American Legion and the United States Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, use dates somewhat different. American Wars

In most instances where eligibility for federal benefits is concerned, one need only have served in the military during the period of time specified, not necessarily in the war zone.  There are exceptions; the Indian Wars is one.  Others include operations such as Beirut, Lebanon, Vietnam prior to 1964 (in Laos and Cambodia), and others during modern times.

The period of the Indian Wars was approx. 1817 thru 1898; however, to be eligible for benefits including a flag holder, service must have been on the western frontier or Florida, and the assigned units must have been engaged against Indians.

The flag holders are not federal or national, they are mandated by state laws.  Each state differs, most follow the dates established in the attached document.  Pennsylvania does and I believe NYS also does.  Not all states require flag holders or marking of veterans graves.

The flag holders are purchased by the counties, from the county general fund.  Their use is mandated by state law.  In Pennsylvania they must be  fabricated from bronze or aluminum.  I know that some states, including NYS, use plastic in some cases.  You will find some older markers, Spanish-American War and earlier, made of iron.  The Civil War  holders almost always are inscribed "GAR" in the center.  If a GAR post/camp number is also included, it was provided by that organization, not by county government.  All of those provided by the GAR were made of iron as far as I know.

Aa generic holder is used for "peacetime veterans."  The latter, by definition are not veterans and they are not eligible for most veterans benefits, including a flag holder.  However, as a political matter, the generic is provided by some counties, including Bradford, for the graves of these who are designated by Congress and the VA as "former members of the armed forces of the Untied States."  Not all counties in PA provided the generic "peacetime veteran" holder, probably because there is no provision in the law to expend public funds on them.