History was repeated at noon on Saturday March 15, 2014. An event of the American Civil War was
 recreated exactly 150 years after it occurred in the midst of that deadly war. The premier regiment of  
 Philadelphia Irishmen in the Civil War – The 69th Pennsylvania Irish Volunteers – represented by their
 modern “reenactment” organization will receive in front of Independence Hall a replacement battle flag and
 retire their worn and tattered flag which they have carried, just as the men they represent did on March 15,
 1864.  At noon, before invited guests, a brass band and representatives of Irish organizations, Major John
  Kopich and Captain Scott Eller will accept the new battle flag and pass it to the 69th Pa color guard.
      The old flag will be retired and placed in special preservation just as the old flag was in 1864.
  The 28th Pennsylvania Regimental Brass Band, led by musician and Adjutant Jeff Heagy, played Irish songs.
 During the Civil War the term of service for most regiments was three years. As bonus to encourage
  reenlistment, the US government provided a  bounty payment and a one-month furlough to all veterans who
  would sign up for service as “Veteran Reserves.”  In addition, any regiment which was able to reenlist more
  than 50 percent of its soldiers would continue as a designated Volunteer regiment. More than 75 percent of the
  soldiers of the 69th Pa reenlisted. Those who did not would remain in camp near Brandy Station, Va.until their  
  release in June 1864. The 71st Pa, 72nd Pa. and the 106th Pa., which made up the remainder of the   
  Philadelphia brigade failed to reenlist 50 percent of their soldiers and were disbanded after the summer of 1864
   The green flag was emblazoned with two red banners with gold lettering on each side proclaiming “Presented
  to the 69th Pennsylvania” on the top banner and “By their friends” on the bottom. In the middle of one side
 was a golden harp with a bare-breasted woman as its pillar enclosed with a wreath composed of green leaves
  and shamrocks. The center of the opposite side was the Commonwealth coat of arms supported by two white
   horses.

  The original green battle flag had been produced in Philadelphia by Irish citizens and delivered to the regiment  
  on the battlefields of Virginia on March 18, 1862 in the small town of Berryville near Harper’s Ferry. That flag
 had served them well in battles near Richmond; at Antietam; Fredericksburg and later, defending the stone
  wall and the copse trees at Gettysburg.  After replacement of their flag on March 15, 1864, the regiment
  marched in the Saint Patrick’s Day parade in Philadelphia and then returned to the war. The Philadelphia
  Public Ledger would report on the 69th participation in the Saint Patrick’s Day parade in the March 18th edition:
  Honoring our flag at Independence Hall  
             March 14, 2014
 Saint Patricks Day 2014