The story behind an historic American flag at The War Memorial
A piece of World War II history isn’t just displayed at The War Memorial around D-Day, rather it serves as a remembrance of that pivotal day in history all year round.
In 2019, John Steininger donated a U.S. flag to The War Memorial, but it’s not your typical Old Glory. The flag was carried by members of the Army’s 29th Infantry Division at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France on D-Day – June 6, 1944.
“It would have been out front of the command post,” he said. “It was not the kind of flag that was flown on a flagpole. The flag was part of the headquarters company that was in charge of maintaining the 29th Division command post.”
The framed flag, with 48 stars, is proudly displayed on a wall in the Reflection Room of the Fred M. Alger Center.
“I’ve been collecting military artifacts since 1963,” Steininger said. “In my travels whenever I went to a different city, I would run an ad in the local newspaper, to purchase military items.”
Steininger, of Grosse Pointe Farms, is the former owner of Grosse Pointe Moving & Storage. He estimates that over the years he’s been to The War Memorial hundreds of times, from school functions when he was growing up, to being a member of the Men’s Club of Grosse Pointe, and even his sister’s wedding reception in 1978.
It was in Madison, Wisconsin around 10 years ago that Steininger purchased the flag from the son of a World War II veteran. The gentleman’s father was a sergeant in the headquarters company of the 29th Infantry Division.
“Of all of the divisions in World War II, the 29th Division was the second highest in the number of casualties, behind the 3rd Division,” he said. “They didn’t play much of a role in the war prior to the D-Day invasion. They spearheaded the landing at Omaha Beach.”
By the end of D-Day, an estimated 2,400 men from the 1st and 29th divisions had become casualties on Omaha Beach.
As Steininger explains it, the headquarters company was responsible for maintaining the division, and traveling with its members wherever it went.
“That flag was moved with them every time and went all the way across Europe,” he said. “Headquarters company landed at 3 in the afternoon on D-Day. Among other things, the sergeant was in charge of the flag, and he brought it home at the end of the war where it sat undisplayed in a locker.”
Upon talking with the former sergeant’s son, the two agreed the flag was of historical significance and that it was shameful to not have it on display.
Shortly after purchasing it, Steininger was contacted by The War Memorial to see about giving the flag a permanent home at the nonprofit organization.
“I told the former president that I think I had just what you would like to have,” he said. “All American flags in my mind should be honored to some degree. The War Memorial is where is should be.”
This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!