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DAUGHTERS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-1865

National Historian Report

Bloomington, Minnesota

July 26-30, 2018

To National President, Caren Cleaveland, officers and members attending the 128th National

Convention of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-1865, at the Crowne

Plaza Aire MSP Airport - Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota, I submit the following

report of the National Historian.

Number of Departments: 19 Number of Departments Reporting: 19

Number of Detached Tents: 12 Number of Detached Tents Reporting: 8

Department of California/Nevada

Number of Tents in Department: 14 Number of Tents Reporting: 9

Date Department received its Charter: April 15, 1909

Charter dates of tents: Tent 5: 1909; Tent 22: 1921; Tent 49: 1948; Tent 86: 2003; Tent 87:

2004; Tent 88: 2006; Tent 89: 2006 Tent 90: 2007; Tent 91: 2008;

Tent 92: 2009; Tent 93: 2010; Tent 94: 2013; Tent 95: 2013; Tent 96: 2014

Tents instituted this year: 0

Number of Tents with ongoing histories: 10

Special events and outstanding and unusual projects and activities:

The California-Nevada Department has been in the process of planning their 110th anniversary

celebration in 2019 with the theme of “The Way We Were” DUVCW in 1909.

The Department Convention included a guest speaker who portrayed General U.S. Grant.

The Department increased the number of high schools to be given JROTC medals from 2 to 3.

4 Tents awarded the certificates, medals and stipends to 10 JROTC units at local high schools.

8 Tents participated in Memorial Day celebrations with one Tent having researched Civil War

Veterans being honored and giving a presentation on his history. The Tent noted that his

headstone was in very bad condition and ordered a replacement.

One Tent had 6th, 7th and 8th grade students participate in an essay contest on “What Memorial

Day Means to Me”. First, second and third place winners of each grade received gift cards in the

amount of $25, $15 and $10. The overall winner is invited to read his or her essay at the

Memorial Day Civil War Ceremony.

One Tent made a monetary donation plus sixty pairs of socks to their local veterans home.

One Tent made a historical display about DUV at their Civic Center library.

One Tent sewed lap and gurney blankets, made beanies and walker bags for their local VA

Hospital.

One Tent collected and purchase sample size and travel size toiletries for homeless veterans.

Two Tents attended a Blue-Grey luncheon sponsored by the Sons of Union Veterans.

Three Tents participated in Wreaths Across America with one Tent actually laying the wreaths.

Two Tents took field trips which included a genealogical library, the USS Bennington Memorial

Grove and a visit to the cemetery to see the newly placed headstone for their Memorial Day

Honoree.

Tent programs of note were “The Role of Britain in the Civil War”, “Musical involvement in our

Ancestor’s Lives to raise Morale”, “The Liberty Bell” and “Clara Barton, Angel of the

Battlefield”.

One Tent created a lending library of Civil War books.

One Tent participated in a Civil War reenactment.

Four Tents had members introduce their Civil War ancestors.

One Tent participated in the 61st Annual Massing of the Colors on Flag Day. The local JROTC

Color Guard, comprised of young women, carried the Tent banner of 1920 and a 33 star Fort

Sumter flag.

One Tent donated 2 large flower urns with white tree roses and blue and red flowers to their

War Memorial Buildings south entrance.

One Tent donated a memorial brick for their Real Granddaughter at National Headquarters.

Department of Colorado/Wyoming

Number of Tents in Department: 3 Number of Tents reporting: 3

Date Department received its charter: August 1, 1905

Charter dates of Tents: Tent 6: 14 May, 1908; Tent 21: August 1926; Tent 23: 20, March 1931




Donated items to VA Medical Center; participated in Wreaths Across America.

Department of the District of Columbia


Date Department received its charter: Dept Status: 1977

Charter date of Tents: Tent 2: 8 Oct, 1902




Dept had two “Go See” meetings this year: in September went to Bayside Historical Museum in

North Beach, Md with a talk about Chesapeake Bay’s involvement in the Civil War; in March

visited Montgomery County History Museum and “Dr. Stonestreet’s Surgery”, a Civil War

medical museum in Rockville, Md. Participated in ceremonies for 4th of July, Veterans Day, and

Memorial Day; gave 2 ROTC medals--to a senior for the second time and to a junior for the first

time in recent history.

Department of Georgia


Date Department received its charter: 25 July, 2015

Charter date of Tents: Tent 2: 17 Oct, 2009; Tent 3: 25 July, 2015; Tent 4: 25 July, 2015

Tent 5: 22 April, 2017

Tents instituted this year: 1; Susie Baker King Taylor #5, Athens



The Department of Georgia held its second convention on April 21-22, 2017 at the Hilton

Marietta Conference Center in Marietta, Georgia. Susie Baker King Taylor Tent #5 was

instituted and their officers were installed by National President Sister Jan Rynerson on April 22,

2017 at the Department convention. New Tent members were initiated by Department officers.

All Tents participated in Memorial Day wreath-laying, Veterans Day and Wreaths Across

America at Georgia National Cemetery, Marietta National Cemetery, Andersonville National

Cemetery, and Oconee Veterans Park. All Tents participated in wreath exchange with Daughters

of the Confederacy. Sister Pauline Snoby won the Lulu Downey Cadwalader Award for her

book: “The Colony of Roswell, One Man’s Dream and the People Who Lived It”. Members

from all Tents attended the National Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A member

volunteered at the Wounded Warrior project at the Braves Stadium in Atlanta.

Other projects and activities include: participation in the National Salute to Veterans Week

February 12-18, 2017 and provided Valentine themed breakfast for outpatient and domiciliary

veterans at Fort McPherson; participated in Eagle Scout of Honor ceremony on March 26, 2017;

Sister Becky Rostron, President of Tent #4 traveled to Vancouver, Washington to present a

special award to a World War II veteran, US Navy Veteran Chief Gunners Mate Paul Clayton

Johnson, who survived the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor. Tent #4 attended a ceremony on

Sept 3, as Civil War Historian Brad Quinlin recognized former slaves buried around Emma

Stephenson at Marietta National Cemetery. Department sisters participated in fundraising for

the 2019 National Convention to be held in Atlanta July 22-18, 2019. JROTC medals were

purchased and presented to area high school JROTC cadets. Members attended and assisted with

a Stand Down at Fort Macpherson. Clothing and lap-blanket donations were made to Fort

Macpherson and Canton American Legions for the homeless veterans project. Pearl Harbor Day

was memorialized at Marietta National Cemetery. Adopt a Veteran program provided a special

Christmas to three Veteran families; honored Golden Age and Wheelchair Game veterans;

provided signed birthday cards to veterans at Georgia War Veterans Home in Milledgeville, Ga;

supported Operation Oreo Box to mail cookies to active military overseas; cleaned cemetery

stones at Old Roswell Cemetery. Media coverage: “Descendants of the Blue and Gray join in

friendship to honor troops” in Marietta Daily Journal.

Department of Illinois


Date Department received its charter: 3 May, 1895

Charter date of Tents: Tent 48: 19 May, 1920; Tent 102: 14 April, 2002; Tent 103: 2 April,

2017

Tents instituted this year: 1: Jennie Hodges Tent #103



Illinois Tents held meetings and took photos of speakers, placed wreaths on Lincoln Death

Day, sent care packages to active military, donated to Inter-Veterans Burial Detail, participated

and purchased wreaths for Wreaths Across America, placed flags on graves of Civil War

veterans on Memorial Day, cleaned headstones of Civil War veterans.

Department of Indiana

Date Department received its charter: 20, September 1915


Charter dates of Tents: Tent 9: 20 Sept, 1920; Tent 54: 6, Dec 1980; Tent 55: 4, Sept 1996



Special events during the year and outstanding and unusual projects and activities:

Department tries to donate 2 flags each year; donates to the Shepherd’s House twice a year;

auction at the November meeting to raise money for the Tent; recognition of Vietnam veterans

with a breakfast at the American Legion in Montpelier, Ind; participated in Bluffton, Ind street

fair two nights in pioneer costumes and in the cemetery walk 2017 in costume.

Department of Iowa


Date Department received its charter: 8 Sept, 1915

Charter date of Tents: Tent 2: 3 July, 1915; Tent 42: 24 Feb, 1927; Tent 69: 1950




Veterans Day program and Memorial Day program with reading of Gettysburg Address.

Department of Kansas


Date Department received its charter: 1924

Charter date of Tents: Tent 6: 2 August, 1924




None reported

Department of Maine


Date Department received its charter: 10 April, 1912

Charter date of Tents: Tent #8: 20 May, 1918; Tent #17: 1 April, 1924;

Tent #19: 14 June, 1924; Tent #23: 24 June, 2004




Tent #8 continued to collect items of former years and the present for the Tent history book.


Tent #8 continued to collect items of former years and the present for the Tent history book.

Items from the 1999 National Convention held in Portland, Me are being added as they get

copied. Sisters bought bulbs for the Christmas tree at the Maine Veterans Home in South Paris,

Me. In memory, Mary Grover Jones for her father, Dwight Grover, and her three uncles Keith

and Rodnesy Grover ad Arthur Gouin. Gail Butterfield had bulbs in memory of her Civil War

Veteran Joseph Henry Briggs and in honor of her husband Kenneth Butterfield and Brother Errol

Briggs, Colonel USAR. Michelle Tucci in memory of three Civil War veterans Jacob Sawyer,

Lorenzo Libby and Nelson Harmon and in honor of her grandfather, Joseph Burke Capistran.

The members have started a lending library between members from their personal libraries.

Tent #17 sponsored the annual Memorial Day program and parade as well as placing 223 flags

on Veterans Day. They placed a gravestone on the grave of Civil War veteran George L.

Whitman’s plot and did a service. Valentines and Halloween candy were given to veterans in the

Maine Veteran Home in South Paris, Me. The Tent initiated a new duv, Victoria

Crockett-Harrington. They attended Veterans Day services at the American Legion Post. They

sent gifts to Togus at Christmas time. The Tent performed the Daughters Funeral service for

Sister Michelle Cary, PDP. Two Tent members participated in the funeral service for Sister

Glynice Snyder of Tent 23.

Tent #23: DUV newsletters were sent in March, July, September and November. Sister Estella

Bennett attended DUV meetings January to May in Gettysburg, Pa. Programs were held at all

regular meetings. Estella Bennett volunteered for 8 hours at the Vietnam Traveling Wall.

Memorial service with Sarah Elizabeth Palmer Tent with brothers of the SUV. Sister Estella got

a headstone for WW1 veteran Ralph Perkins and organized a large dedication ceremony in

Belfast, Me. Books were donated to the Ridgeview Community School Library in Dexter, Me.

Memorial services were held for Civil War veterans E. Young, J. Randall, A. Banks, and F. Pratt

in Dover-Foxcroft. Sisters Estella Bennett and Linda Moon dressed in costume and presented a

program to the annual meeting of Somerset County Extension. Member Linda Tozier made a

quilt and a four month raffle was held. Sister Estella participated in a new Honor Roll program

in Blanchard, Me. Sisters Estella and Linda Moon participated in a 9/11 program. The Tent

donated for headstone repairs with the SUVCW and donated $800 worth of items to the Maine

Veteran Home in Bangor, Me. Tent duv Molly Bennett was very active in all Tent events and

provided two programs.

Department of Michigan


Date Department received its charter: 17 June, 1914

Charter date of Tents: Tent 2: 3 April, 1912; Tent 3: 15 April, 1914; Tent 30: 1 April, 1926

Tent 58: 19 January, 2008; Tent 59: 28 March, 2009




Tent 2: Presentations given: The Irish Brigade; on a member’s 3 uncles who served in WW2--2

of whom lost their lives in Okinawa; on Sojourner Truth; a book review on “Dear First Lady”,

letters sent to Mary Todd Lincoln, Betty Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt; on a member’s Civil War

ancestor who died at Antietam; His Breastplate was found; on Major Amasa B. Watson who is

buried at Oakhill Cemetery in Grand Rapids; on James Hanna, Civil War soldier from the 3rd

Michigan, 4 of his daughters being early members of Tent 2 and the ancestor of 4 of Tent 2’s

current members. Visited the GAR Hall and Museum at Eaton Rapids, Mi to celebrate the 151st

birthday of the GAR.

Tent #3 hosted the District meeting with over 25 Michigan sisters in attendance; initiated 3

members; participated in the annual Veterans Day services sponsored by local veterans

organizations at the Cathedral Church of St Paul in Detroit and attended annual attended annual

Veterans Day memorial services at historic Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit; honored the lives of 2

sisters who passed away in 2017: Cleopatra Celeste Jones who was 99 and Alice Lee Maxwell

who died at 101.

Tent 30: continues to provide the Memorial Day service for the community of Sunfield,

maintains the GAR Hall there, which is the only Michigan GAR Hall in continuous use of the

GAR or its Allied Orders; fund the maintenance of the Hall with a dart booth at Sunfields’s

annual Farmer’s Picnic.

Tent 58: very involved with the 2017 National Convention; President and Chaplain were

National Co-Chairs; gave 1st person presentation as Sarah Emma Edmonds at National Memory

Banquet; dedicated benches at Riverside Cemetery; went to a SUVCW memorial for one of our

sister Father’s; taught 4th graders and seniors about the Civil War.

Tent 59: continues to donate money to the Michigan Save the Flags Project and to Veterans

Activities.

Department of Minnesota



Charter date of Tents: Tent 1: 1906; Tent 2: 1914; Tent 24: 1977




Participated in the Hennepin County Library Family History fair in October 2017; updated Tent

archives; planned and worked with National officers to host the DUVCW National Convention

In July, 2018.

Department of Missouri


Date Department received its charter: 27 October, 2005 Charter date of Tents: Tent 16: 22

August, 1930; Tent 20: 1 August, 1990; Tent 21: 25 June, 1994; Tent 22: 3 October, 1999;

Tent 23: 27 October, 2005; Tent 24: 31 August, 2013




The Tents participated in flag placements on Memorial Day; wreath laying during the year;

Wreaths Across America and memorials for past members; Tent 16 hosted a Lineage Society

Fair, a Family History workshop and a Veterans Day parade. Tent 21 honored fallen soldiers at

the “Wall that Heals” replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Warrensburg. They

participated in the Friends of Historic Columbia Cemetery event that honored Ann Hawkins

Genty for whom the Tent was named; Tent 23 held the state convention in June 2017 and will

have the June 2018 convention.

Department of Nebraska



Charter date of Tents: Tent # 1: 13 Feb, 1917; Tent # 7: 24 May, 1919;

Tent #25: 19 May, 1934; Tent #26: 20 June, 1934; Tent #29: 2 August, 1971



Special events, outstanding and unusual projects and activities:

Tent #1 participated in a Memorial Day ceremony at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Omaha and

adopted the Omaha Barracks section. A US flag was presented to Restored Hope, a place for

homeless single mothers. Tent 1 provided dessert at the Friday Night Campfire at the 98th Dept

Convention in honor of its 100th Anniversary. Celebrated the 100th anniversary of their

chartering on Sept 23 at the Rockbrook Shopping Center in Omaha. Members from other

patriotic organizations attended as well as members of the museum board from the Civil War

Veterans Museum at the GAR Memorial Hall in Nebraska City, NE.

Members from Tents 7 and 29 attended the Sons of the American Revolution American Heritage

Dinner in Lincoln, NE in February, 2017. The speaker presented a personal interpretation of

Lady Vesty. Tent 7 placed 247 US flags in the GAR Circle at Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE on

Memorial Day. Also an additional 100 flags were placed on the graves of veteran outside the

GAR Circle. A ceremony was conducted and flowers were place at the graves of Civil War

nurses, the first Tent President, Emma Susong, and the Tent benefactor, Verdi Smith. Tent 7

awarded a $380 DUVCW scholarship through the Nebraska Foundation to a nursing student.

Tent 25 presented US flags to kindergarten students at Bellwood, NE Elementary School. They

also place DUVCW flags on the graves of members at Bellwood, NE Cemetery. They placed

US flags on the graves of Civil War veterans at Pleasant View Cemetery and Pleasant Hill

Cemetery.

A member of Tent 29 gave a reading, “Thoughts When They Fold the Flag”, on Memorial Day

and placed a wreath at the cross in the Potter Cemetery in memory of the Civil War veterans.

They assisted a junior girl from the Potter-Dix High School to attend Cornhusker GIrls State in

Lincoln, NE. The Department honored Vivian Bonham,PDP for 75 years of membership in Ida

McKinley Tent 326, Beatrice, NE during the 98th Department Convention held in April, 2017

Lincoln, NE.

Department of New York


Date Department received its charter: 27 July, 1893

Charter date of Tents: Tent 2: 11 Feb, 1892; Tent 36: 22 July, 1918; Tent 56: 18 June, 1921;

Tent 71: 25 Jan, 1926; Tent 109: 29 May, 2010



Special events and unusual and outstanding projects during the year:

7 members attended National Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan where Sister Caren

Cleaveland was elected National President. Department Convention was held in Ithaca, NY.

Caren Cleaveland appointed member Eileen Sleckman to serve as National Historian and as

Chair of the Fraternal Relations Committee.

All Tents attended Memorial Day services and wreaths were laid at Grant’s Tomb, the American

Civil War Memorial at Waterloo, Oswego, Mt Hope Cemetery GAR plot, Furnaceville,

Gettysburg, Sodus Point, Long Island National Cemetery and Northport VA Medical Center.

All Tents had representation at Gettysburg on Remembrance Weekend.

Tent #2: a donation was made to the West Windsor Fire Co in the memory of Sister Arlene

Starley, who passed away; several members attended a Civil War re-enactment in Cortland, NY;

several members attended the dedication of Col David Ireland Memorial Highway.

Tent #36: on June 11th 5 members, along with members of the SUVCW, took part in a ceremony

at the Northport VAMC to dedicate the Civil War panel at the Wall of Wars Memorial Garden.

Dept Sr VP Dr Mary Cordato made a presentation on Kady Brownell and women in the military

throughout history; members attended a Fourth of July celebration at the USS Monitor

Museum site with members of the SUVCW; members participated in events at Civil War

Weekend at Islip Grange Park; members took part in a Veterans Day Service at St Thomas C

Church in Manhattan and carried the Tent banner in a “Massing of the Colors” procession;

members visited the Vets Place in Yaphank, brought lunch and decorated for the holidays; the

Tent adopted 2 military families and provided them with Christmas gifts; Tent held a Holiday

party in December along with the SUVCW, with our National President in attendance. Two

guests from the Northport VAMC spoke about veterans. The Tent worked with the SUVCW to

refurbish a Civil War monument in Patchogue, NY. Tent has a website and publishes a twice

yearly newsletter.

Tent 56: several members participated in historical reenactment at the Hannibal Historical

Society, Ithaca, Waterloo, Oswego, Mumford, Henrietta, Hamlin Beach, Canada, and Angelica;

Tent put up an annual display at the Ontario Town Library; member Marilyn Dirk was

interviewed on the Travel Network; Tent duvs participated in Helping Hands at Huron; member

presented “Animals Went to War” at an encampment.

Tent 71: Tent attended an encampment at Peterboro and manned an informational booth there

and at the Madison County Fair where the Tent won a blue ribbon; several members attended an

event commemorating the 285th birthday of George Washington.

Tent 109: Tent conducted annual Civil War Illumination Weekend at Waterloo; participated in

Vietnam Era Veterans reception and recognition; held a recognition luncheon for National

President and Tent founding member Caren Cleaveland.

Department of Ohio


Date Department received its charter: 17 Sept, 1890

Charter dates of Tents: Tent 1: 3 June, 1885; Tent 6: 7 January, 1891; Tent 19: 20 April,

1903; Tent 23: 24 March 1908; Tent 63: 19 June, 1922; Tent 91: 9 June, 1926;

Tent 139: 28 March, 1938; Tent 151: 10 Dec, 2005; Tent 152: 14 June, 2009.




Five Tents participated in Memorial Day parades, wreath laying and grave decoration. Five

Tents reported attending the 2017 Ohio Dept convention held in Dennison University in

Granville. Five Tents attended the District meeting held in Lima in September. Three Tents also

participated in Veterans Day ceremonies.

Tent 23 attended Flag Day ceremonies and also participated in a Flag Retirement Service. Tent

members attended the rededication of a monument to Civil War veteran John F. Schmidt in

Kenton. Tent 23 held the District Meeting last September with a Flag Retirement Ceremony and

POW/MIA Empty Chair Ceremony. 184 cards were sent to members and veterans.

Tent 91 reset another Civil War headstone. They donated three Ohio flags to Galion City

Schools. Tent members also donated a check to Sandusky Veterans Home for their

Make-A-Wish. Two wreaths were donated form one of the Tent members for Wreaths Across

America with three members going to Sandusky to hep place wreath. Cards are still being sent

by Judy with an average of 40-60 cards a month.

Tent 139 attended the Veterans and Vietnam era Veterans parade Sept 30, 2017. The Tent also

presented member Gay Jones with a DUVCW Veterans pin. Donated money for two wreaths at

Marietta National Cemetery in Georgia for Wreaths Across America.

Tent 151 sold fundraising tickets to raise money for veterans, participated in the National Day of

Prayer on May 6th and baked cookies for veterans at the Sandusky, Ohio. The Tent participated

in the Fort Meigs Timeline reenactment in Perrysburg, Ohio as well as selling crafts there.

Members attended the National Convention in Grand Rapids, MI and also volunteered at the

Sandusky County Fair passing out ribbons to veterans as well as doing volunteer charity work in

Oregon, Ohio. Tent presented a flag to Habitat for Humanity in Fremont, Ohio, sis volunteer

work at Hospice and sold crafts at the Music Festival and Art/Craft Show. Members placed flags

on veterans graves, participated in nursing home visits and entertainment and are researching a

book being written by the Tent Historian on Civil War soldiers buried at Whittlesey Cemetery in

Fremont, Ohio. Tent also collected requested items to be sent to our soldiers on active duty as

well as making Civil War era and patriotic crafts to sell to raise money for our soldiers

Tent 152 placed flowers on Civil War graves for Memorial Day and also on namesake Marietta

Mungen’s grave site, and recognized the anniversary date of the Tent’s founding.

Department of Oklahoma


Date Department received its charter: 18 September 1926

Charter date of Tents: Tent 18: 18 February 1984




None reported

Department of Oregon


Date Department received its charter: 6 Dec, 1919

Charter date of Tents: Tent 2: 16 July, 1918; Tent 6: 12 Nov, 1921; Tent 19: 19 March, 1929




Fourth of July parade. Crypt visit to Theodore Penland, last Commander in Chief of the

GAR, Lincoln Tea--annual observance. Car and member in Veterans parade.

Department of Pennsylvania



Charter date of Tents: Tent 23: 1923; Tent 32: 1926; Tent 40: 1928; Tent 50: 1937; Tent 53:

1947; Tent 55: 1950; Tent 56: 1965; Tent 57: 2000; Tent 58: 2002; Tent 60: 2007;

Tent 61: 2009; Tent 62: 2014; Tent 63: 2015; Tent 64: 2016




Attended Banquet at National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg celebrating Dave Klinepeter’s

75 years of service to the SUVCW. Celebrated the 90th birthday of a 75-year member of

DUVCW. Presented Women’s Veteran Medals to 2 Tent members.

Collected and distributed Thanksgiving, Christmas and Thank You cards to deployed military

personnel in Afghanistan, on the Nimitz aircraft carrier, at a military unit stationed near North

Korea, on three US Naval Command ships, at Andrews Airforce Base. Partners included Hoss’s,

Merck employees, K-12 schools, Southerton Adult Care Center and Centre County Senior Center

Distributed Thank You cards to veterans at Lebanon Veteran Hospital on Memorial Day

weekend, and to VA hospitals in Pa, NJ, Md and Va; participated in a Christmas party at

Southeastern Veterans Center; volunteered at Veterans Home in Philadelphia and at Upper

Gwynedd Facility where the number of hours devoted to DUVCW-related activities earned a

Volunteer Rock Star award.

Invited speakers to inform members about women of Gettysburg, Civil War regimental flags, the

life of Thaddeus Stevens, Civil War surgeons and chaplains, Boal Mansion, Civil War fashion, A

20 Soldier’s Life, Bucktail Regiments.

Laid wreaths, conducted or attended memorial ceremonies at the graves of Tent namesakes, in

Prospect Cemetery in Portage, 4 cemeteries in Centre County, Gettysburg on Remembrance Day,

for General U.S. Grant in New York City, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington

National Cemetery, a Lincoln Statue in Jersey City, General George Meade’s annual birthday

celebration in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Washington Crossing National Cemetery and Indiantown

Gap Veterans Cemetery.

Attended dedication of a stone marker for US Colored Troops soldier Janles Craft in Meyersdale

Area Union Cemetery, hosted by SUVCW Camp #502 and Auxiliary.

Collected and sent manufacturers’ coupons to US Army base in Japan; collected old cell phones

to be recycled for Cell Phones for Soldiers.

Held an Open House at Glades Pike Country Store & Farmers Market, and Centre County

Grange Fair.

Presented a US Flag with the Pledge of Allegiance written in Braille to Brad Snyder, US Navy

veteran and Paralympic gold and silver medal winner.

Made donations to the Keystone Military Families Donation Center, Wounded Warriors,

Disabled Veterans Association, VFW, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Civil War Trust, Wreaths

for Warriors, Wreaths Across America, VA hospital in Philadelphia, SE Pa Veterans Center and

NJ VA Healthcare system; provided US flags to some Massachusetts cemeteries.

Attended Constitution Week ceremony at Bucks County Courthouse, the Civil War Preservation

Ball in Harrisburg, and a 9/11 Memorial Motorcycle Ride.

Marched in Memorial Day parade in Sweet Valley, Pa, in Watsontown 4th of July parade, Buhl

Day Parade on Labor Day, Lincoln’s Birthday Philadelphia Parade from the Union League to

Independence Hall and in Veterans Day parade in Sharon.

Knitted lap covers for church; coordinated groups making hats, scarves and gloves for homeless

veterans; funded condition evaluation and conservation recommendations for the National Civil

War Museum of a dress worn by Pa’s Civil War First Lady.

Unusual Projects and Activities:

Held an Ancestor’s Show and Tell program, with Tent members sharing photos and articles.

Submitted an article for an historical marker for WW2 nurse Margaret Nash, a former POW who

was awarded both the Bronze Star and a gold medal.

Volunteered at Somerset Historical Society guiding school tours, at the Museum of the American

Revolution and Moland House as board members, and at Central PA Food Bank Military Share

Program in Northumberland County.

Visited Historic sites throughout the US.

Cleaned section of local cemetery, cleaned memorial stones with the DAR at Hunter-Grant

Cemetery in Sunbury; cleaned veterans memorials at St John’s Cemetery, Mt Pleasant Mills and

the headstone of WW1 veteran Charles Conley; volunteered to handle genealogical inquiries,

supervise placing of flags and general upkeep of cemeteries.

Created a portrait of President Lincoln from Lincoln pennies and presented a public program on

the Lincoln Funeral Procession, 1865, and 2015.

Applied for and received $3,000 in grant money for Tent.

Served the National Department in dozens of positions and project assignments, and represented

the DUVCW at many official events.

Arranged Welcome Home celebrations and banners for veterans returning from Tours of Honor

in Washington, DC; a Welcome Home Soldiers banner in Anchorage, Alaska for troops

returning from Afghanistan; sponsored three “Hometown Hero” banners in Lansdale.

Sponsored a female veteran through Adopt-a-Veteran and shared sponsorship of a Marine

deployed in Afghanistan.

Department of Washington/Alaska



Charter date of Tents: Tent 1: 23 Oct, 1912; Tent 2: 17 June, 1915; Tent 26: 13 March, 1928;

Tent 40: 23 Oct, 2003




Tent 1 received 5 boxes of old DUVCW materials; 2 boxes were sent to Headquarters for

archiving; 1 box was sent to LGAR National Historian/Museum, contained original LGAR

charter from 1914 and 1926 journal of proceedings of GAR Encampment donated to the National

Museum in Harrisburg, Pa; the journal became the focal point of a display at the National

Museum on the Veterans of the Civil War and will remain on display from June 2017 to June

2018; ongoing research and verification with the Civil War Nurse Project, Eastern Washington

and Western Idaho Civil War Military Toads and Forts Project, Civil War Veterans buried in

Spokane, Wa; creation of a member database for Clara Barton Tent #1 from applications, Tent

rosters and Tent phone directories; new filing system created for Tent #1 for preservation of

materials. Members participated in Wreaths Across America; in February members laid a wreath

at the University of Washington in Seattle; in April members participated in gravestone cleaning

of GAR Cemetery in Seattle; in April members attended interment and laid a wreath for 3

unmarked Civil War soldiers’ graves at Western State Hospital in Steilacoom for Thomas

Blanchard, Charles Wesley Cooley and Oliver Beach; in May 1 member laid a wreath for

Memorial Day at Wahelli Cemetery in Seattle; in June members attended Department

Convention; in July 2 members attended National Convention; in September members attended

interment and laid wreath for 1 unmarked Civil War Soldier Grave at Port Orchard, WA for

Zachariah M. Stucker; in October members attended interment and laid wreath for 1 unmarked

Civil War soldier grave at Gig Harbor, WA for Hannibal Bickford.

Margaret Warner Wood, Detached Tent 1, Phoenix, Arizona

Date Detached Tent received its charter: 23 March, 2002

Is there an ongoing history of your Detached Tent? Yes


The goal for 2017 was to continue to work closely with the Department of the Southwest

SUVCW and the Auxiliary to Camp Picacho Peak #1, bring members of all 5 Allied Orders

together in Arizona and work with other patriotic groups for the common good.

Members of Margaret Warner Wood, along with the SUVCW and the ASUVCW participated in

Memorial Day wreath laying services at the Pioneer & Military Memorial Park in Phoenix where

over 100 Civil War soldiers are buried. Tent participated in Memorial Day services at the

Phoenix National Cemetery for the 16th consecutive year. Tent president Maura MacKowski

and PTP Verna Maleski attended the first Encampment of the Dept of the SW SUVCW in

Phoenix. Dept Commander John Conrad presented Sister Verna Maleski with the Dr Mary

Edwards Walker award for her “outstanding, sustained and conspicuous service to the SUVCW

in Arizona in furtherance of its missions and goals. Her efforts have strengthened the Allied

Orders in the Dept of the SW and promoted a spirit of camaraderie and cooperation among the

three Orders in the jurisdiction of the Dept of the SW.” Members of all 5 Allied Orders came

together at the 5th annual joint meeting of Margaret Warner Wood and Camp Picacho Peak #1.

Roger Pollard, co-chair of Operations Welcome Home AZ and representative of the Arizona

Wall Project from the City of Gilbert spoke on the history of the project, sharing renderings of

the museum and grounds. Tent members along with Allied Orders members attended a Pearl

Harbor Day ceremony at the USS Arizona Anchor Memorial. Tent President and Jr VP attended

a Missing in America Project veterans cremains recovery and interment program at the state

veterans cemetery in Marana and Sister Ginger Trokey gave a presentation of this ceremony to

the Trilogy Genealogy Club. Tent members attended 2 other MIAP interment ceremonies.

Programs presented by Tent members include: the 5 GAR presidents; the history of President’s

Day; the Objectives of the GAR; How the Allied Orders were formed; the history of Fort

Sumter; naval officer William Conway. Out of town member Julia Schaeffer has worked with

her students to complete the Kane County Veteran Virtual Memorial in Illinois. Tent sponsored

75 wreaths for Wreaths Across America at Arizona National Cemetery. Tent attended the

Pioneers’

Cemetery Association ice cream social, raising funds and touring the cemetery. Members

decorated 110 handmade cards for the state veterans’ home in Phoenix. Tent collected 500 pairs

of socks for veterans and the homeless nationwide, and also 450 pairs and 200 snack items for

the Arizona State Veterans Home in Phoenix.

Mary Todd Lincoln, Detached Tent 10, Tampa, Florida

Date Detached Tent received its charter: 18 March, 2000



Tent traveled to the Douglas P. Jackson Nursing Home at Port Charlotte on Memorial Day.

Donations and gifts to the Home include birdhouses for the residents. Tent scanned scrapbooks

from 2003-17 onto a flashdrive. Four members attended National Convention in Grand Rapids.

Louisa May Alcott, Detached Tent 11, St Cloud, Florida

No report

Mary Ann “Mother” Bickerdyke, Detached Tent 2, Selmer, Tennessee

Date Detached Tent received its charter: 19 April, 1997

Is there an ongoing historic record of your Detached Tent? Yes


Tent purchased bingo prizes for residents of the Selmer, Tennessee McNairy County Care and

visited veterans that live there. Participated in Veterans Day program and WAA ceremony.

Sold wreaths for Wreaths Across America.

Lucinda Heatherly, Detached Tent 3, Knoxville, Tennessee

Date Detached Tent received its charter: 2001



The Tent welcomed National President Jan Rynerson and PNP Barbara Stone and Historian

Gerald Augustus in January for the initiation ceremony for the Tent’s reorganization. Tent made

a $50 donation to the National President’s Project as well as $20 to the Civil War Trust. In

March the Tent partnered with General William Lenoir Chapter, NSDAR, to collect bingo prizes

and essential for the Ben Atchley State Veterans Home. Two new Tent members were initiated

and SUVCW National Treasurer David McReynolds was welcomed at the March meeting. May

meeting featured McClung Museum Civil War Curator John Merkel; a $100 donation was made

to the East Tennessee History Day, with prizes going towards the best Civil War research

projects for students in grades 6-12; six sisters participated in Memorial Day ceremonies with

SUVCW, ASUVCW, and the 79th NY Highlander reenactors; in June two sisters attended the

Admiral Farragut Birthplace marker re-dedication in Farragut, Tn; helped to organize a lineage

workshop with several other organizations, with President Holly Matthews and Registrar Alice

Brosey assisting prospective members. In October author Melanie Storie from East Tennessee

University spoke about her book, “The Dreaded Thirteenth Tennessee Union Cavalry:

Marauding Mountain Men”, with some attendees being descendants of the Mountain Men;

another new member was initiated; the Tent voted to adopt a veteran from the Ben Atchley State

Veterans Home for Christmas; Tent wrote 140 Christmas cards for each veteran at the Home.

Updated bylaws were approved.

Major Belle Reynolds, Detached Tent 4, Tennessee

Date Detached Tent received its charter: 5 May, 2001



Tent participated in Memorial Day at Shiloh National Park and Cemetery; took part in the Sugar

Creek Reenactment; Christmas party at Sawmill Restaurant; Luncheon for veteran drivers,

Lawrence county, Tn; donation and Christmas cards for Mid-South Package Project; placed flags

on veterans’ graves.

Latha Jane Boyd, Detached Tent 1, Arlington, Texas

Date Detached Tent received its charter: 28 October 1989

Is there an ongoing history of your Detached Tent? No


Tent participated in a plaque dedication ceremony with the Colonel E.E. Ellsworth Camp #18 at

the Greenwood Cemetery in Dallas, Texas. The Tent helped with the Camp’s tombstone

cleaning project.

Clara Barton, Detached Tent 3, Kerrville, Texas

No Report

Sarah Emma Edmonds, Detached Tent 4, Houston, Texas

No Report

Elizabeth Van Lew, Detached Tent 1, Haymarket, Virginia:

No report

Cordelia A P Harvey, Detached Tent 21, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Date Detached Tent received its charter: 15 July, 2010



Tent signed over 800 Christmas cards this year for distribution to the veterans at the State

Home at King, Wisconsin. The Tent also supported them through donations of items for

their ‘closet’ as well as funds for their coupon program for the residents there. The Tent

has also done various “information station” type events in the state, with hand outs on the

DUVCW.

Mary Chesebro Lee, Detached Tent 23, Delavan, Wisconsin

Date Detached Tent received its charter: 19 May, 2012



Speaker topics during the year included the history and achievements of the GAR; the social and

emotional impact of the Civil War on the country; Civil War flag use; Union and Confederate

uniforms; Civil War food; DUVCW badge and pin protocol; Grant’s career and success.

Participated in the Civil War Expo hosted by Kenosha Civil War Museum; laid a wreath at the

60th annual Lincoln Tomb ceremony in Springfield, Ill; donated $100 towards the DUVCW

bench to be placed at the Stephenson Plaza in Petersburg, Ill; placed 175 flags on Civil War

gravesites at Spring Grove Cemetery; took part in Memorial Day parade in Delavan, and laid a

wreath at the monument in Spring Grove Cemetery. Joined with Tent 21 to participate in the 3rd

annual GAR encampment events, providing meals and an historic fashion show for the public.

Attended the unveiling of a plaque by the SUVCW and its Auxiliary commemorating over 1000

Civil War soldiers buried at the historic Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee; participated in the

Union Grove Fourth of July parade; attended the 150th Camp Randall Encampment and

Memorial Commemoration in Madison; purchased a brick on behalf of Tent 23 for the Memory

Garden at the National Headquarters in Springfield; members attended the 126th National

Convention in Springfield; participated in Delavan’s 180th anniversary celebration by sharing

the history of the area Civil War Monument; Tent 23 and GAR Post 8 donated money to have a

light cabinet built for the preservation and display of a GAR stained glass window donated to the

Walworth County Historical Society; provided public information regarding historical resources

for Civil War information in Walworth County; collected greeting cards for all occasions for our

Real Daughters project; sent thank you cards to veterans from Walworth county; attended the

Tri-County Family History Fair with a display and recruitment table; assisted in the planning and

presentation of the Veterans Day program at the Walworth county Historical Society; donations

were delivered by a Tent member to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (Veterans rehab shelter)

in South Dakota; donated candy, hygiene supplies and clothing to Transitional Homeless

Veterans Shelter in Janesville, Wi; donated holiday candy to current military overseas; sent 200

holiday cards to the Red Cross “Holidays for Heroes” program; celebrated the holidays with the

Delavan Historical Society at a joint luncheon where attendees brought gifts for seniors in area

nursing homes; contacted the Military Science Dept at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

to present a deserving cadet with an ROTC medal; welcomed 4 new members into the Tent.

Submitted in Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty,

Eileen Sleckman, PDP

National Historian

daughters of union veterans of the civil …duvcw.org/images/pdf/2017nathistorianreport.pdfdate...

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