Fort Smith, AR- February 20, 2010. The first Sons of Union Veterans (SUV) Camp in the state of Arkansas in over 50 years will meet on March 6, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. in the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History (503 E Ninth St, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202).
The Gen’l James B. McPherson Camp #1, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, is for all interested males who wish to honor ancestors who were Union soldiers during the Civil War. SUV Camps regularly help maintain Civil War cemeteries, research Civil War people and Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) posts, help protect Civil War monuments, provide educational opportunities regarding the Civil War and some members take on the uniform and march in holiday parade. All this and more to achieve the goal of perpetuating the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the men who saved the Union.
The first Grand Army of the Republic post in the state of Arkansas was also named for General McPherson and opened its doors in 1881 in Little Rock. At its height around 1900, over 88 Arkansas communities had a GAR post. The Sons of Union Veterans. created in 1878, also had camps in several Arkansas communities. Most, if not all, of the GAR posts and camps disappeared from the state by the 1930, as the Civil War veterans passed away. In the 1950s, the national GAR closed its doors with the death of the last Union soldier and passed the torch to the Sons of Union Veterans to perpetuate their memory.
Prior to the business part of the meeting, members will share Civil War and GAR artifacts in a show-and-tell. The meeting is open to all. Men wishing to join as charter members should bring along documentation of their direct ancestor (or uncle). Those without some proof of an ancestor may still join as an associate. The business meeting will also elect temporary officers of the organization.
Anyone interested in attending or having questions about this meeting, should contact Walt Busch, McPherson Camp acting secretary, PO Box 381 Arcadia, MO 63621-0381 or wbusch@suvcwmo.org