The flag, which has 35 stars, was found in Washington, D.C., in 1885 and has been in storage at the Illinois State Military Museum. It was displayed at the state capitol in Springfield until 1922 and in the Howlett Building until 2003. Then, it was moved to a modern, climate-controlled facility at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, and placed flat in a drawer.

Four years ago, Reed, the president of the Streatorland Historical Society, began organizing a drive to preserve the flag and return it to Streator. On Saturday, it will be re-dedicated at a 1 p.m. ceremony at the Streator Public Library where it will be on permanent loan from the museum.

“This is local history that should be on display and not locked up in a cabinet,” Reed said.

More than $16,000 was raised for the restoration project that included cleaning the surface, stabilizing the paint and adding a cotton backing.

“This will be one of six Civil War flags now on display in Illinois,” Reed said.

The 6-foot-6-inch by 6-foot-6-inch flag will be framed and have a storyboard nearby, telling the story of Poundstone and the flag, Reed said.

“It’s going to be very nice and is now back in Streator where it should be,” he said. “For me, this story has everything. It’s one of our heroes from the Civil War and the story is fascinating and very intriguing to me. I’m just very glad and very proud that we could get this done right.”