WHAT we do for OUR COMMUNITIES

The Sons often get asked “who we are” and “what we do?” Are we Civil War reenactors, also called “living historians” or “historic interpreters?” Historians? Politicians? While many of our members have varied interests, the SUVCW itself is none of those things. The core of “who we are” is “what we do.”

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of the heroes who fought and worked to save the Union in the American Civil War. In many instances, we carry on the work that the men of the Grand Army of the Republic began. Below are some key, perpetual projects in which the Garfield Camp 62 regularly takes an active role here in Vermont.

Graves Registration

The goal of the SUVCW National Grave Registration Project is to locate the final resting places of all Union Civil War Veterans, and enter that information into the National Graves Registration Database. This undertaking is rather large and needs as many interested people to assist as possible. In Vermont, the SUVCW has located and registered thousands of graves of Union soldiers from each state of the Union.  The work has just begun, as there are estimated to be thousands of Union soldiers buried in Vermont. If you are interested in helping with graves registration, please reach out to the Camp Officials.

Cemetery Flagging

Each spring in the weeks leading up to Memorial Day, the SUVCW places thousands of flags on the graves of Union Veterans.  This charge, given to the SUVCW by the Grand Army of the Republic, is one of the Order’s most solemn and important duties.

Memorial Day

Each Camp in Vermont partakes in Memorial Day ceremonies all over the state. The old Boys in Blue instilled a great reverence for Memorial Day into the Sons, and it is the cornerstone of our order that we hold fast to the time-honored tradition of laying flowers and reciting verses over the graves of our Honored Dead.

Educational Presentations

We will provide, free of charge, a wide array of educational programs and presentations of the American Civil War. From the Grand Army of the Republic to the life of a Vermonter during the war, we strive to ensure that the memory of those who fought for the Union will never be forgotten.

Cemetery Cleanups

Time marches on, and many of Vermont’s historic cemeteries have suffered from years of neglect and have been nearly lost to time. Others have simply fallen in disrepair after only a few years.  The Garfield Camp 62 regularly canvasses cemeteries while doing graves registration work and oftentimes comes across a cemetery that is in need of a helping hand.  Many hands often make quick work, and many of these historic cemeteries have been reclaimed.  Cemeteries exist because every life is worth remembering.

Headstone Replacement

Occasionally, research or family members reveal that a Civil War soldier is buried in an unmarked grave here in Vermont.  Perhaps there was once a stone there, but it had been previously destroyed, perhaps there was never a stone, perhaps the stone is so worn down to the point of illegibility.  In certain cases, the SUVCW can work with the Veterans Administration to have a new, government-provided, federal headstone ordered for the veteran.  We take great care to vet each situation so that there is not any abuse of the headstone program.

Civil War Soldier and General Research

Many members of the SUVCW are adept at genealogical research and can help you learn about your Civil War ancestor or person of interest with a variety of tools and techniques. The Sons also regularly partner with genealogists and specialized Civil War ancestry researchers to help build a complete picture of the men who took up arms to preserve the Union and the regiments that they fought for.

ROTC/JROTC Program

By honoring deserving cadets, we help promote the maintenance of unqualified American citizenship because it will be these young people who will eventually serve in our Nation’s military, under the flag our forefathers fought to preserve. To learn more about the program, visit the ROTC/JROTC page.

Eagle Scout Program

One of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War many goals and purposes is to reward young men who achieve the status of Eagle Scout with a special congratulatory letter and color Certificate of Commendation. To learn more about the program, visit our Eagle Scout page on the National Website.