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/