Introduction to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

Lincoln-Cushing Camp No. 2

Department of the Chesapeake

President Abraham Lincoln CMDR. William B. Cushing

Insignia

SUVCW Seal SUVCW Coat of Arms

• Copyrighted with medals in 1882 by A.P. Davis

• Use in official correspondence

• Also copyrighted in 1882 by A.P. Davis

SUVCW Membership

• Membership Criteria – Male descendent of CW veteran

– Never convicted of heinous crime

– Never took up arms against U.S. government

• Junior Membership Criteria – Same qualifications as Member, aged 6 to 14

• Associate Membership Criteria

– No direct lineage, but has a deep interest in Civil War

SUVCW History

• Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) – predecessor of SUVCW – founded in 1866 by Union Veterans

• GAR founded Sons of Veterans, U.S.A (SV) in 1881

• GAR sponsored SV camps

• In 1925, SV became SUVCW

• In 1954, federal charter issued by Congress

SUVCW Mission

• To preserve the memory of the GAR and our ancestors who fought to preserve the Union, 1861-1865

• To assist every practicable way in preservation and making available for research documents and records pertaining to the GAR and its members

• To cooperate in doing honor to all who have patriotically served our country in any way

• To teach patriotism and duties of citizenship, the true history of our country and the love and honor of our flag

SUVCW Structure

National

• National Headquarters at National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA

• Led by the Commander-in-Chief with the Council of Administration

• National encampment meets annually

SUVCW Structure

• Department – Many departments are by

state but Chesapeake is DE, MD, VA, WV and DC

– Committees matching functions at National level

– Hold annual encampments

Department of the Chesapeake

Maryland

West Virginia

District of Columbia

Virginia

Delaware

SUVCW Structure

• Camp – Led by Commander and two Vice

Commanders

– Meets quarterly by camp by-laws

– Local projects

– Traditional Memorial Day (30 May) ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery

– Historical and social outings

SUVCW Officers

• For both Camp and Department – Commander

– Senior Vice Commander

– Junior Vice Commander

– Secretary

– Treasurer

– 3 Council Members

SUVCW Programs

• Union graves registration

• Civil War and GAR memorials catalog

• GAR Records Project

• Education

• Petition to restore traditional Memorial Day to 30 May

• Eagle Scout recognition

Union Graves Registration

• Maintain list of graves in your region

• Ensure proper headstones or markers

• If unmarked, seek family, acquire headstone from Veterans Administration

Civil War and GAR Memorials Catalog

• Identify all GAR erected memorials

• Inspect and report back to National the condition of these memorials

• If any need refurbishing, determine the cost and apply for a grant

GAR Records Project

• Locate and catalog GAR records

• Create database of GAR records

• Assist custodians of GAR records with their preservation

Education

• Classroom speakers on Civil War or patriotic themes

• Flag facts and flag disposal

• SUVCW scholarships

Memorial Day Petition

• In 1868, General Logan PC-in-C, issued Order No. 11 to designate 30 May as Decoration Day, later Memorial Day, to honor those who lost their lives in the war

• The petition asks Congress to consider restoration of the traditional 30 May date for Memorial Day

Eagle Scout Recognition

• SUVCW feels any young man who has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout deserves recognition

• Scouting promotes the same principles of patriotism and the love and respect of the flag

• Certificate of commendation presentation

Department of the Chesapeake History • First Camp – Garfield #1, Baltimore 1 March, 1883

• Department of Maryland chartered 14 June, 1887

• First Department Commander – Miles Ross, Baltimore

• First Department Encampment (annual business meeting) 14-15 June, 1887 in Baltimore

• First hosted National Encampment – 1888 in Wheeling, WV

• First C-in-C – Edward Campbell of DC 1901

• Department changed its name to Department of the Chesapeake – April 2011

• Department of the Chesapeake will host the 2015 National Encampment in Richmond, VA

Lincoln-Cushing Camp No. 2 History

• On 22 February 1961 Lincoln-Cushing Camp No. 2 was chartered in the city of Washington, DC

• Created through combination of Abraham Lincoln Camp No. 2 (chartered 9 February 1887) and CDR William B. Cushing Camp No. 30 (chartered 1 December 1891)

• First Lincoln-Cushing Camp Commander was Maj. General Ulysses S. Grant III, Past C-in-C

• First brother to sign Lincoln-Cushing charter was Robert Todd “Bud” Lincoln Beckwith, Great Grandson of President Lincoln

Camp Badges

Camp Member Worn by any full SUVCW

member.

Camp Commander Worn by any active Camp

Commander.

Past Camp Commander Worn by any past Camp Commander

after serving a full term.

Associate and Junior Badges

Associate Worn by associate members.

Junior Worn by junior members.

Department Badges

Department Officer Worn by elected department officers except Commander.

Department Commander Worn by department Commander while serving. Includes a drop bar

reading “Department Commander.”

Past Department Commander May be worn by any past Department Commander after serving a full term.

National Badges

National Officer Worn by national officers. Commander-

in-Chief has a drop bar labeled “National Commander.”

Past Commander-in-Chief Worn by past national

Commander.

Military Service Medals

War Service Medal Worn by members who served in U.S.

Military during a time of combat. Has drop bar bearing name of war.

Military Service Medal Represents service in U.S. military.

Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR) Badge

Worn by members of the Sons of Veterans Reserve.

SUVCW Badge Protocol

• Worn on left breast, or on formal occasions, on left lapel or as a mini-badge

• May only wear one “member” badge (member, camp, department or national) at a time

• Or you may wear a “past” camp, department or C-in-C badge instead of member badge

• Not one of each!

SUVCW Badge Protocol

• You may wear a War Medal Badge OR a Military Service Badge in addition to a “member” or “past” badge

• A Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR) badge, National or Department Encampment badge MUST be worn with a “member” or “past” badge

• Encampment badges are worn on right breast.

Special Ceremonies • Burial of a True Son of a

Union Veteran

• Burial of a member

• Dedication or rededication of a grave marker or headstone

• Memorial service for departed members

• Annual traditional Memorial Day service at Arlington National Cemetery

Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR)

• The ceremonial uniformed military component of the SUVCW

• Participates in Civil War related ceremonies, parades, living history programs and reenactments

• Membership in the SUVCW is required to belong to the SVR

• SVR maintains a separate organization with military rank for members

Auxiliary to the SUVCW

• Founded in 1883 as the Ladies Aid Society to the Sons of Veterans

• Granted auxiliary status to the SV in 1887 and name became Auxiliary to SV in 1900

• Name changed to Auxiliary to the SUVCW in 1925

• Open to women who are descendants or married to a brother of SUVCW

For More Information

National Headquarters

http://www.suvcw.org/

Lincoln-Cushing Camp No. 2

http://lincolncushing.org/