The Sons of Veterans (as they were first known) was sanctioned and established by the GAR in 1883. In the beginning, this organization was mainly comprised of sons of Civil War soldiers. The group's philosophy was essentially the same as that of the GAR: to honor and remember all Union soldiers, to uphold the Constitution of the United States, and to be fraternal, charitable, and loyal. The SUV's primary function was to help the local GAR post in carrying out their duties. As GAR members got older, the Sons took on more and more responsibility, such as decorating graves, raising money, and maintaining the post.
As time went on and the members of the GAR began to die off, the Sons took over the posts and carried on the memory of the GAR and all Civil War soldiers. Along the way, they changed their name to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Today the Sons of Union Veterans are the main resource in America for information on the Civil War.
Within the structure of the SUVeach state is called a Department, and within the Department each individual group is called a Camp. The Alden Skinner Camp #45, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, resides in Vernon, Connecticut. This organization was chartered in May of 1890 and is the oldest continuous group in the town. They have met in the Burpee Post GAR Room since the second Thursday of September in 1890, and still meet there today, on the second Thursday of each month. In the year 2000, the Camp will celebrate its 110th anniversary.
Alden Skinner Camp #45's list of achievements has made it one of the finest SUV Camps in the United States. They own, maintain, and operate the New England Civil War Museum, and the O'Connell/Chapman Historical Library. They have an extensive outreach program to local towns, their citizens, and schools. The group has preserved one of the finest Civil War relic collections in New England, along with a tremendous amount of books, paintings, lithographs, original letters, and photographs dealing with the Civil War and the Grand Army. The Alden Skinner Camp remains steadfast in its efforts to ensure that young people know and understand their country's history, not only the Civil War but its entire history.
Each year, the Camp gives out a $500.00 scholarship to a graduating student of Rockville High School. The Camp has been recognized in the New York Times, and in local and state newspapers. It boasts five authors in its ranks as well as many prominent personalities within the historic community.
If you are interested in being in an organization that not only remembers the past, but looks toward the future, and not only preserves history but makes it, please contact the National Headquarters of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.