Teaching others about our Flag, our government, patriotism and citizenship were important to the Grand Army of the Republic. In 1888, two socially prominent New York City GAR Posts began competing with each other in presenting Flags to schools. After the 1892 Nat. GAR Encampment endorsed the practice, it spread throughout New York and to other states as well.
During the 1890s, Philadelphia’s GAR Post 2 invited high school classes to visit the post hall. It also tried to institute lectures in area schools. In Wisconsin, several GAR posts instituted “children’s campfires,” where veterans related the Union war experience to young people. Some members were detailed to visit schools on Memorial Day.
Today, throughout our Order, Camps are carrying on the work started by the GAR.

The Camp That Never Sleeps

Since 2001, New York City’s Oliver Tilden Camp 26 and the Greenpoint Montior Museum have operated a “Road Show.” Each year, CC George J. Weinmann, SVC Arthur Kirmss, PCC John Portanova, and Sr. Janice Weinmann, ASUVCW, visit ten to twelve local schools dressed in Civil War uniforms. The Weinmanns are also officers of the museum.

The Camp’s interactive Civil War history lessons promote an interest in art, engineering, history, music and writing; patriotism and an appreciation of soldier sacrifices; appreciation of immigrants’ role in the Civil War; and GAR’s example of community service.
One to four classes participate at a time, ranging from 20 to 110 students. Children either write an essay on what they learn, write a letter to a Civil War Soldier or from a Civil War soldier, or draw a picture of something covered during class. The best work is recognized annually at an award ceremony. Last year, 27 students, their family members, teachers, and others gathered at Brooklyn’s Church of the Ascension, near where the USS Monitor was built.
The Church was built from funds Thomas Fitch Rowland received from the construction of the USS Monitor. Dressed in Civil War uniforms, a student color guard opened the ceremony.
Slides showed all the class visits, taking parents inside the classroom. A Civil War concert by SVC Arthur Kirmss and the Church organist concluded the program. Visit the “Road Show” website at http://greenpointmonitormuseum.org/index.htm

A Sure Bet
Wm. B. Keith Camp 12’s PDC Al Peterson was a part-time security guard at Las Vegas’ Helen Marie Smith Elementary
School when the school’s staff and 5th graders’ discovered he was an SUVCW member. During US History, he spoke on
Memorial Day and was invited him back on his days off to help students. He also spoke at the 5th graders’ graduation.
In 2007, Camp 12 adopted the school and PCC Len Baker and Br. Bill Branigan were enlisted to help. The Camp started
an essay contest in the 5th grade classes and a flag poster contest for the 3rd and 4th graders, giving out Barnes & Nobel gift certificates.

The Camp taught the meaning of the U.S. Flag and the pledge, presenting K through 3rd graders with small hand-held U.S. Flags, and 4th and 5th graders with patriotic bookmarks. The school received a new outdoor U.S. Flag. Each week, two 5th graders were chosen to properly retire the flag at day’s end.
Later, a Veterans Day program and a Pres. Lincoln impressionist were added. This past November, the Camp spoke on the difference between Flag Day, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Parents come to the programs and thank the brothers for what they are doing. .
Br. Peterson adds, “I am so honored and blessed that I can be a part of the students lives and pass on whatever knowledge I have. They treat me as one of the staff and it’s like a family there.”

2009 Trimborn Farm Civil War Weekend
PCC Tom Brown (left) of Wisconsin’s C.K. Pier Badger Camp 1 talks to area 5th graders about the GAR and the Sons during the 2009 Trimborn Farm Civil War Weekend school day.

8th Grade Reenactors
Chalone Peaks Middle School 8th-graders participated in the
ninth annual school-sponsored Civil War reenactment last year at San Lorenzo Park in King City, CA. Bitterwater-Tully Union School Dist. students attended the event for an all-day field trip and they were able to watch classmates participate in the “Battle of Gettysburg”.

CC Frank C. Avila and PI Paul E. Lavrischeff again represented Phil Sheridan Camp 4 at the annual event. They were
joined by Lincoln Camp 10 PCC Timothy P. Reese and Br. Donald Fusilier. In addition to learning about the Civil War in
their classrooms, the students were encouraged to make their own Civil War uniforms, issued toy replica muskets, and
organized into regiments for a mock battle. Brs. Frank, Paul, Tim, and Don assisted with information about the life of the
soldier, period arms, medicine, and the GAR and SUVCW.

The Start of Something Big
On a trip to Detroit’s John A. Logan School in early 2009, PDC Bruce Butgereit, of Grand Rapids’ Gen. John A. Logan
Camp 1, learned Principal Cruz needed a new US Flag for the school. After a brief conversation with the principal about
the SUVCW, he knew Camp 1 was about to adopt a school. The Camp envisioned providing Civil War history programs
for the students, including an annual patriotic essay and poster contest The September 11th Flag presentation perpetuated the memory of the GAR and promoted fraternal relations. Participating were Dearborn’s Sgt. John S. Crosbey Camp 427, Detroit’s Sarah Sterling Tent 3 (DUVCW), Grand Rapids’ Champlin Corps 41(WRC), WRC NMAL and Grand Rapids’ Eva Gray Tent 2 (DUVCW). The school’s new 8’ x 12’ flag was a gift from the WRC. The Color Guard included Camp 427 Brs. Keith and Ian Kushnir, Howard Fite, Jerry Olson, Ed Binkley, Aaron Schrader, Jerry Radloff, and Rick Danes.

The program’s speakers included both the Detroit Mayor’s Exec. Assist. and the Public Schools Superintendent. Camp 1’s CC Bill Truss and Br. Colin Butgereit helped the students raise the Flag.
Detroit Public Schools retired teacher and DUVCW PNP
Celestine Hollings led the Pledge of Allegiance. Over 500 voices speaking in unison was a moving experience.
Br. Bruce said, “We answered the call of educating our youth in the proper respect for the flag of the United States. The call for patriotism was met in remembering the sacrifices that allowed us to raise the flag that morning. By ‘adopting’ the John A. Logan School, we have committed ourselves to more than just a one-time event.”
Plans for a school color guard are underway. A local business is designing t-shirts and sweatshirts for the color guard. As an
introduction, each student received the SUVCW Flag Facts Flyer.
The Sons will return in May of 2010 to conduct educational
programs on the Civil War and Memorial Day and its connection to General Logan.

History instruction helps children recognize their own relationship to history. Special experiences pump life into
children’s history learning. History improves judgment. Knowledge of the past is required for understanding present realities.

As Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, we are the legal heirs to the GAR. Our goal and purpose is to perpetuate the
memory of the GAR; what they did in the Civil War and to preserve the Union, and to continue the work they started
following the War. Learning about the other cultures and histories that live among us today is important, but the basic
history of the United States cannot take second place to that of others. Learn what you can do at
http://www.suvcw.org/NatPatrioticPage.htm