A brace of fifes chirped “The Battle Hymn of the Republic’’ as dozens of men wearing the pinwheel forage cap of the Union Army and bearing infantry flags marched to the drum cadence into the State House. To the right of the pacing soldiers, an Everett woman named Judy Parisi sported an 1800s-style ball gown, complete with a puffy, crinoline underskirt and a bonnet.

She also carried an iPhone.

On Tuesday, exactly 150 years after the original ceremony, reenactors staged “The Return of the Flags’’ ceremony, which commemorated the end of the Civil War. On Dec. 22, 1865, Union General Darius N. Couch presented Governor John A. Andrew the battle flags of state regiments, for safekeeping and posterity.

At the time, Couch called the flags a reminder of “long and fatiguing marches, cold bivouacs, and many hard-fought battles.’’ A mural of the soldiers’ triumphant return decorates the Memorial Hall at the State House.

On Tuesday, Francisco Ureña, the state secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Services, played the role of Governor Andrew.

“General, I accept these relics in behalf of the people and the government. They will be preserved and cherished amid all vicissitudes of the future, as mementos of brave men and noble actions,’’ Ureña said, quoting the governor’s words.

Ureña was on the front steps of the State House, facing dozens of reenactors standing at attention in Civil War garb.

Later, when Ureña spoke to the crowd indoors, the troops let out a rousing “Hip! Hip! Hooray!’’ to honor their governor.

Leading the march into the State House were the men who represented the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, one of the first units of black soldiers in the country.

Members of the replica regiment posted the colors for the ceremony and stood throughout the hour-long program.

George Magazine, a member of the 54th infantry’s reenactment troupe, said it was an honor to lead the soldiers in the ceremony.

Magazine said that every time he straps on the Union greatcoat, vest, or gloves, he feels like he embodies the spirit of his ancestors.

“It makes me feel like I’m bringing back my history,’’ Magazine said. “You can feel how they were not being trusted, being called names, and fighting for their lives.’’

Inside the hall, Civil War buffs held forth on the significance of the day, a historian read the poem “The Return of the Standards,’’ and a bugler played taps.

More than 10,000 soldiers from Massachusetts died in the war, which lasted from 1861to 1865 and remains the deadliest conflict in American history.

According to The Civil War Trust, a nonprofit group that aims to preserve former battlegrounds, the cause of death among Massachusetts casualties was evenly split between combat and disease.

Kevin Tucker, who helped organize the flag ceremony, said that some Massachusetts infantry battalions were so decimated by the war that no one was left to carry their flags at the original ceremony, and soldiers from other units had to carry their standards.

Tucker said the battle flags presented Tuesday were authentic reproductions of the original set, which were on display in the State House until 1987 but are now locked in a temperature-controlled storage case.

Parisi, the historically dressed Everett woman, said she attended the ceremony to honor Union Sergeant Thomas Plunkett, a Civil War color bearer and her first cousin, four times removed.

Plunkett was carrying the emblem of the 21st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry at the Battle of Fredericksburg when a blast amputated both his arms, Parisi said.

He received a Medal of Honor for his bravery, and Parisi held his picture during Tuesday’s ceremony.

“It was beautiful to hear everyone say the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the national anthem,’’ Parisi said.

She also made a new friend.

After the ceremony, Parisi and Maurice Healy, a Civil War reenactor from Dudley, discovered that their relatives served together during the war.

Healy’s great, great-grandfather fought in the conflict, not far from where Parisi’s ancestor took part.

Parisi’s husband, Paul, also participated in the ceremony and said the couple got involved in Civil War battle stagings to forge such interpersonal connections.

“We were at a reenactment as spectators, and I was like, ‘Oh my God! This is great! We should get involved,’ ’’ Parisi said.

He said he bought his Union uniform that weekend.

Astead W. Herndon can be reached at astead.herndon@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @AsteadWH