10 CONCLUSIONS

A unique feature of the treatment of the First Guidon was the fabrication of a specialized overlay. The overlay fulfills a complex set of criteria. It needed to be a colored, sheer, strong fabric. It was also required to complement the disparate elements composing the artifact by providing support to the weak ground while having openings with edges resistant enough to be secured to extremely heavy but strong protruding crests.

While it was not possible to discuss other aspects of the treatment in detail, a complementary underlay was also devised to adequately support the flag with corresponding openings for the battle honors on the reverse. The underlay is made of a different fabric, and the edges of the cutouts were finished with hand stitches.

The overlay and underlay are secured with stitching around the perimeter of the cutouts to heavy metallic threads composing the battle honors, which are in excellent condition. Supplementary stitches were placed in select embroidered areas of the flag where the silk ground was protected from light damage, as well as around the outer edge of the flag. The flag assembly is mounted on a padded, fabric-covered solid support with recesses for the two battle honors.