Discover the Major General James A. Garfield Camp 62

Friday May 30, 2024

 The Lincoln Community School continued its decades-long tradition of observing Memorial Day with a march of teachers and students to the Maple Cemetery. 

The Garfield Camp had been invited by Tory Riley and the Lincoln Community School for their over-20-year going Decoration Day Memorial at the Maple Cemetery in Lincoln this morning. An incredible turnout of students, (faculty), parents and townspeople. A few of us spoke about the significance of the day giving the children a fresh outlook on today’s importance. David Wood gave attendees a lesson on the history of Memorial Day over the years, and Riley explained “the importance of this day and how we can all learn about the sacrifices that so many gave and how we can help to prevent those sacrifices in the future.”

Camp Commander Frazier was given the opportunity to explain to the students a very brief history of Decoration Day and its significance to the Civil War along with a description of my uniform, then gave a stirring prayer that was well received by all. We performed a flag ceremony lowering the flag to half-mast, and several of the students played TAPS in the background as we all maintained several minutes of silence.

 This is what our organization is all about, carrying on the traditions of the (Grand Army of the Republic) and interacting with our communities, sharing the history and pride in our country. A wonderful morning that I was both honored and moved by the interest of our future generations.

Sunday April 23, 2024

 Through the rain and thunderstorms, we were able to dedicate the memorial replaced by the Vermont Old Cemetery Association (VOCA), and the Vergennes Burial Ground Restoration Project (VBGRP) today.

It was an incredible turnout of many of the Garfield Camp Brothers, along with the Vermont SVR members serving as a Color Guard for the event. 

As soon as Camp Commander Frazier gave the memorial speech, the skies opened up with a deluge of rain with thunder and lightning. It did not damper the meaning of the event to all who were present.

Earlier the DAR had a memorial service for a Veteran that was both in the Revolutionary War, along with the War of 1812. It was a great turn-out of all the groups and several townspeople also braved the weather. My personal thanks to all who attended. 

“Cherish their spirit, honor their commitment, send them our love, and we will never forget the service that they gave, and the sacrifices that their families endured.

These monuments are not just to them, they are reminders to us all.

Speak their names proudly and often, For the last time their names are heard, they will surely be lost to history.”

B. Frazier – SUVCW Camp Commander, Garfield Camp 62

Tuesday August 24, 2024

  Great day working with Brother Colomb at his Civil War veteran's gravesite at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Fairfield Vermont yesterday. It was a beautiful day to honor this veteran by a memorial cleanup that probably had never been done. We plan on returning in the spring to give the gravestones the next "D2" spraying and another scrubbing. I hope to work on getting a "proper" Civil War soldier memorial stone for his veteran ancestor. 

September 28, 2024

Commander Frazier went to a Vermont Old Cemetery Association (VOCA) meeting today at the 

Mary Baker-Allen chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Cornwall Vermont.

What a great building with so much history in every nook and cranny of the facility.

I had been working with the digital version of the book; "Vermont in the civil war. A history of the part taken by the Vermont soldiers and sailors in the war for the Union, 1861-5" by George Grenville Benedict, 1826 for many member verifications and other research for members here in Vermont. Looking through the hundreds of books in the facilities shelves... There it was... an actual hard copy of the book that I had gotten so much use from over the past several years. It's so true... holding the history in your hard, is so much different than just reading words on a computer screen.

Thanks to all at the DAR Hall for a wonderful day.

October 6, 2024

  This past Sunday the Garfield Camp celebrated its first anniversary of the issuance of its Charter. It was a great and humbling day for me having members of the other Camps there to celebrate our day.

A wonderful meal and desert by the Waybury Inn in East Middlebury Vermont. The Brothers had a fantastic day with each other and their wives. We were honored to have some members of the Lincoln Historical Society present who also shared in our enjoyment. Tom Giffin from the Vermont Old Cemetery Association was awarded the SUVCW Lincoln Award for his service to our communities, and we also celebrated Brother John Mayville’s 80thbirthday. I was very honored by all who attended, this is what our organization’s “fraternity” truly means.

Photo Curtesy of Commander Dan Celik ~ Ripley Camp