Collector preserves military history
By Jessica Cross
crossja84@gmail

Mark Hershberger, collector of military uniforms and insignia, holding a 50- year- old army company guidon. On the left is a parade uniform of The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, C. 1965)

While history is most commonly recounted with ink and paper, Mark Hershberger of Columbia has composed a visual history with his collection of military uniforms and insignia.

Hershberger began collecting patches in his home state of Indiana in 1958. Today, his collection of military heraldry has expanded to approximately 500 uniforms, 3,000 insignia, and other items that date as far back as 1865. Heraldry refers to armorial bearings used for identification, such as a family or organization's coat of arms. According to Hershberger, the military has kept the heraldic tradition the most in tact, partially due to the necessity of proper identification on the battlefield.

Hershberger spent two years in the U.S. Army, but his interest in heraldry began in his youth. He said, "I was fascinated by the knight in shining armor."

The shield on the arm patch of Captain Frank Hahn's U. S. Army uniform is considered by Hershberger as exciting as a knight in shining armor.

Hershberger indicates that his preservation of heraldry is significant because heraldry has an indirect influence on policy. "Policy is the collective decisions of the American people and their government," he adds. In light of the emphasis people tend to place on movie and music stars, Hershberger says we ought to make it a priority to remember those soldiers who have sacrificed to guard our freedom to make decisions that affect us.

Due to Hershberger's passion for military heraldry, he strives for good record keeping. Another segment of his collection includes a scrapbook of old photos and other recorded material. The scrapbook's contents provide a clearer image of the soldiers who wore the uniforms in Hershberger's collection.

Hershberger also owns a wide variety of books pertaining to military heraldry and history. "I'm a great believer of older history books," says Hershberger. If you want a sense for what life was like during a given time period, he says, read old history books.

As Hershberger's collection continues to grow, he actively seeks opportunities to share his interest and expertise with others. He does not sell or trade items from his collection, nor does he have a permanent display; but he says he conducts displays for non- profit organizations whenever he has the opportunity. For more information, please call 776 8478.