US Civil War Grand Army of the Republic Veterans Lapel Badge

The US Civil War Grand Army of the Republic Veterans Lapel Badge is a historical insignia issued to members of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), an organization founded in 1866 by Union veterans of the American Civil War. The badge typically features a star-shaped design, often with symbolic imagery such as the Union shield, crossed cannons, and laurel branches, representing victory and military service. Many examples include motifs and inscriptions denoting the GAR, as well as the number of the local post or chapter to which the veteran belonged. Made primarily from bronze or other durable metals, the badge was intended for wear on civilian garments as a form of identification and camaraderie among Union veterans. These lapel badges provide insight into late 19th and early 20th-century veterans’ organizations and serve as a physical record of the GAR’s presence in postwar American society.