An introduction to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) and Lincoln-Cushing Camp No. 2 in Washington, DC. SUVCW is an organization dedicated to the study of U.S. Civil War history, preservation of the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), research documents and CW monuments.

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Union Graves
Registration
• Maintain list of graves in
your region
• Ensure proper
headstones or markers
• If unmarked, seek family,
acquire headstone from
Veterans Administration

9. 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

10. GAR Records
Project
• Locate and catalog GAR
records
• Create database of GAR
records
• Assist custodians of GAR
records with their
preservation

11. Education
• Classroom speakers on
Civil War or patriotic
themes
• Flag facts and flag
disposal
• SUVCW scholarships

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. SUVCW Officers
• For both Camp and Department
– Commander
– Senior Vice Commander
– Junior Vice Commander
– Secretary
– Treasurer
– 3 Council Members

17. Department of the Chesapeake
Maryland
West Virginia
District of Columbia
Virginia
Delaware

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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.

21. Associate and Junior Badges
Associate
Worn by associate members.
Junior
Worn by junior members.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR) Badge
Worn by members of the Sons
of Veterans Reserve.

26. 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!

27. 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.

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. For More Information
National Headquarters
http://www.suvcw.org/
Lincoln-Cushing Camp No. 2
http://lincolncushing.org/