"A keen eye would have been slow to detect in that rider with the flowing locks and bright necktie, in his dress of velvet and gold, the master spirit that he proved to be. That garb, fantastic as at first sight it appeared, was to be the distinguished mark that... was to show us where in the thickest of the fight we were to seek our leader. Brave, but not reckless; self-confident, yet modest;... his courage was of the highest moral and physical type. He was the most brilliant and resourceful cavalry officer of his time... the Michigan cavalrymen swore by Custer and would follow him to the death." -Col. James H. Kidd

One of the greatest tributes that can be paid to a military man is to have the respect and admiration of one's commanding officer. After the surrender of Lee's Army at Appomattox Court House, General Philip Sheridan sent the following letter to General Custer's beloved wife Libbie:
"My dear Madam- I respectfully present to you the small table on which the conditions for the surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia were written by Lt. General Grant-and permit me to say, Madam, that there is scarcely an individual in our service who has contributed more to bring this about than your gallant husband."

Michael Gnatek's imposing portrayal of General Custer shows him as a Brigadier-General seated upon a fine thoroughbred horse. Memorable events in the General's military and personal life are symbolically displayed: his devoted wife Libbie, the Presbyterian Church in Monroe, Michigan, where they were married on February 9, 1864 and Custer's 2nd personal flag valiantly carrried into battles from October 1863 to June 1864. The national flag fills the background-the flag which General George Armstrong Custer spent his life serving and gave his life defending.