PROCEEDINGS ONE HUNDRED-FIFTEENTH ANNUAL NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR RADISSON INN NORTH COLUMBUS, OHIO AUGUST 8 THROUGH AUGUST 11, 1996 PROCEEDINGS ONE HUNDRED-FIFTEENTH ANNUAL NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR RADISSON INN NORTH COLUMBUS, OHIO AUGUST 8 - 11, 1996 2000, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, A Congressionally Chartered Corporation PROCEEDINGS ONE HUNDRED-FIFTEENTH ANNUAL NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR RADISSON INN NORTH COLUMBUS, OHIO AUGUST 8 THROUGH AUGUST 11, 1996 Forward The following Proceedings of the 115th Annual Encampment of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War were prepared three years after the fact. While every conceivable effort has been made to present an accounting as complete as possible of the Encampment, there are many areas where information was no longer available. Special acknowledgment needs to be made Sandi Crawford, Steve Fought, Ed Gusman, John Heseltine, Peter L. Johnston, Glenn Knight, Celeste Lewis, Charles L. Christian, William S. Morgan V, Brian Peters, and Rebecca Pratt, without whose assistance these Proceedings could not have been completed to their present extent. Keith G. Harrison, PCinC Proceedings Editor June 2000 ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH ANNUAL NATIONAL ENCAMKPMENT SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR RADISSON HOTEL COLUMBUS NORTH COLUMBUS, OHIO AUGUST 8-11, 1996 Table of Contents Forward............................................................................................................................................................ ii Biography of David R. Medert, Commander-in-Chief 1995/1996 .................................................................... v Civil War Ancestors of Commander-in-Chief David R. Medert. ...................................................................... vi Elected and Appointed National Officers for 1995/1996.................................................................................. vii Standing National Committees 1995/1996 ...................................................................................................... viii Special National Committees 1995/1996 ........................................................................................................ viii One Hundred Fifteenth Annual National Encampment (First Session August 9, 1996)................................. 1 Preliminary Credentials Committee Report ................................................................................................ 2 Appointment of Encampment Committees and Staff ................................................................................. 2 Past Commanders-in-Chief Recognition .................................................................................................... 3 Charters and Awards Presentations........................................................................................................... 3 National Officers Reports ........................................................................................................................... 4 Report of the Commander-in-Chief .................................................................................................... 4 Report of the Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief and National Committee on Program and Policy......................................................................... 9 Report of the Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief and National Committee on Membership..................................................................................... 10 Report of the National Secretary ........................................................................................................ 13 Report of the National Treasurer........................................................................................................ 15 Report of the Banner Editor................................................................................................................ 22 Report of the National Quartermaster ................................................................................................ 23 Report of the Life Membership Coordinator ....................................................................................... 25 Report of the National Counselor ....................................................................................................... 25 Report of the National Chaplain.......................................................................................................... 28 Report of the National Patriotic Instructor........................................................................................... 28 One Hundred Fifteenth Annual National Encampment (Second Session, August 9, 1996)............................ 30 Report of the National Historian and National Committee on History................................................. 30 Report of the National Graves Registration Officer and National Committee on Graves Registration......................................................................... 30 Report of the National GAR Highway Officer ..................................................................................... 31 Report of the National Chief of Staff................................................................................................... 32 Report of the Washington Representative ......................................................................................... 32 Report of the National Membership-at-Large Coordinator ................................................................. 34 Report of the National Membership List Coordinator ......................................................................... 35 Report of the National Camp and Department Organizer .................................................................. 37 Report of the Banner Advertising Editor ............................................................................................. 37 . Report of the National Aide-de-Camp ................................................................................................ 38 Report of the National Guard.............................................................................................................. 38 Report of the National Guide .............................................................................................................. 39 Report of the National Color Bearer ................................................................................................... 39 Report of the National Aide for Protocol ............................................................................................. 39 Additional Awards Presentations ................................................................................................................ 39 One Hundred Fifteenth Annual National Encampment (Third Session, August 10, 1996).............................. 40 Communications......................................................................................................................................... 40 National Standing and Special Committee Reports.................................................................................... 40 National Committee on Program and Policy....................................................................................... 40 National Encampment Site Committee .............................................................................................. 40 Table of Contents (continued) National Committee on Legislation..................................................................................................... 41 National Committee on Military Affairs ............................................................................................... 45 Additional Award Presentations.................................................................................................................. 47 National Committee on Amencanism and Education ......................................................................... 48 National Committee on Lincoln Tomb Observance............................................................................ 48 National Committee on Remembrance Day....................................................................................... 50 National Committee on History........................................................................................................... 51 National Committee on Fraternal Relations........................................................................................ 51 Special Committee on GAR Memorial Foundation............................................................................. 51 Special Committee on Blue/Gray 1999 Encampment ........................................................................ 52 Special Committee on Banner Printing and Distribution..................................................................... 52 Special Committee on Real Sons and Daughters .............................................................................. 52 Special Committee on National Headquarters Fund Raising ............................................................. 55 Special Committee on National Headquarters ................................................................................... 57 Special Committee on Life Membership............................................................................................. 58 Special Committee on Membership Number.....................................................................................