The Department of Texas and Louisiana
The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) is a patriotic and hereditary organization dedicated to preserving the history, memory, and legacy of the men who fought to save the Union during the Civil War. Organized in 1881 and chartered by Congress in 1954, the SUVCW is the legal heir and successor to the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.).
The G.A.R. was founded in 1866 by Union veterans and became one of the nation's most influential veterans' organizations. Because its membership was limited to those who had personally served during the Civil War, the organization could not continue indefinitely. To ensure that the memory and traditions of the Union veterans would endure, the G.A.R. helped inspire the formation of the Sons of Veterans in 1881, later known as the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
Today, the mission of the SUVCW is carried forward through its nationwide network of Departments. Each Department typically encompasses one or more states and serves as the vital link between local Camps and the broader National Organization. The Department of Texas and Louisiana serves as the regional home of the SUVCW for members throughout Texas and Louisiana, providing leadership, fellowship, and a united voice for the preservation of Union Civil War history.
The Department of Texas and Louisiana supports and coordinates the work of its five Camps, encourages membership, promotes historical research, and helps organize memorial observances, commemorative ceremonies, educational programs, and preservation efforts. Whether honoring a Union veteran at his gravesite, preserving a historic monument, researching the story of a forgotten soldier, participating in a patriotic ceremony, or sharing Civil War history with the public, the Department of Texas and Louisiana, through its various Camps, transforms the national mission of the SUVCW into meaningful action at the local level.
The local Camps are the heart of the organization, while the Department provides the leadership, coordination, and support that help those Camps work together toward a common purpose. Guided by the enduring principles of the Grand Army of the Republic - Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty - the Department of Texas and Louisiana is proud to carry forward the legacy of the Union veterans who sacrificed to preserve the United States.
The G.A.R. was founded in 1866 by Union veterans and became one of the nation's most influential veterans' organizations. Because its membership was limited to those who had personally served during the Civil War, the organization could not continue indefinitely. To ensure that the memory and traditions of the Union veterans would endure, the G.A.R. helped inspire the formation of the Sons of Veterans in 1881, later known as the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
Today, the mission of the SUVCW is carried forward through its nationwide network of Departments. Each Department typically encompasses one or more states and serves as the vital link between local Camps and the broader National Organization. The Department of Texas and Louisiana serves as the regional home of the SUVCW for members throughout Texas and Louisiana, providing leadership, fellowship, and a united voice for the preservation of Union Civil War history.
The Department of Texas and Louisiana supports and coordinates the work of its five Camps, encourages membership, promotes historical research, and helps organize memorial observances, commemorative ceremonies, educational programs, and preservation efforts. Whether honoring a Union veteran at his gravesite, preserving a historic monument, researching the story of a forgotten soldier, participating in a patriotic ceremony, or sharing Civil War history with the public, the Department of Texas and Louisiana, through its various Camps, transforms the national mission of the SUVCW into meaningful action at the local level.
The local Camps are the heart of the organization, while the Department provides the leadership, coordination, and support that help those Camps work together toward a common purpose. Guided by the enduring principles of the Grand Army of the Republic - Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty - the Department of Texas and Louisiana is proud to carry forward the legacy of the Union veterans who sacrificed to preserve the United States.
Their generation saved the Union. Our generation has the privilege and responsibility of preserving their memory.