Our Mission

The Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) is a volunteer, patriotic educational organization similar to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and is officially recognized as its legal successor. Founded in 1881 by the sons of the Civil War veterans, the SUVCW today has over 6,000 members.

Our mission is threefold

1-Honoring Union Veterans

2-Preserving and perpetuating the GAR

3-Patriotic Education

Honoring Union Veterans

The SUVCW cooperates in doing honor to all who have patriotically served our country in any War. The order participates with other organizations in the proper observance of our holidays; especially Memorial day (May 30^th), which was established by the GAR in 1868; seeks out and marks the graves of Civil War veterans; observes the care and upkeep of Civil War memorials and brings any failure to do so to the attention of the proper authorities.

Preserving and Perpetuating the GAR

The SUVCW assists in the preservation and making available for research, the documents and records pertaining to the GAR and its members. The order insures that the condition of signage along U.S. Route 6, The GAR Highway, is properly maintained. The SUVCW supplies scholarships, funding to the Lincoln Memorial and Tomb ceremonies, and the Gettysburg Remembrance Day ceremony, and grants for Civil War memorial preservation. Meetings and encampments are conducted according to the tradition and rituals of the GAR.

Patriotic Education

The SUVCW’s patriotic education includes teaching patriotism and the duties of citizenship, the true history of our country, and the love and honor of our flag. Each year, the order conducts presentations in schools and throughout the community.

The SUVCW encourages the proper teaching of American history in our schools. It keeps the public informed of activities and measures that violate or may weaken the spirit and purposes or our country’s Constitution and institutions. It promotes and broadly sustains the American principles of representative government, of equal rights and impartial justice for all.