LCDR Edward Lea USN, Camp 2 – Houston, TX

REPORT FROM 2024 DEPARTMENT ENCAMPMENT

The 30th Annual Encampment of the Department of Texas and Louisiana was held in Plano, TX on May 4, 2024.  The festivities began Friday evening with a reception at the home of Bro. Don Gates, PDC.  There was a Saturday morning brunch then on to the meeting, which was called to order promptly at 1pm by Department Commander Michael Lance.  Junior Vice C-in-C Kevin Tucker was on hand to address the Encampment and bring greetings from Commander-in-Chief Hritsko.

The big highlight for Camp 2 was that our very own Commander John Vander Meulen was elected Department JVC.  Congratulations Brother John!  Congratulations are also in order for our newly elected Department Commander, Brother Timothy M. Phillips, Camp 1, and Department SVC Brook J. Thomas, Camp 18. Other Department officers from Camp 2 installed by JVC-in-C Tucker include Stephen Schulze, Chaplain;  Daniel Pourreau, Registrar; Terry Sutton, Graves Registrar; Michael Lance, Historian and John Vander Meulen, Signals Officer.

GAR Sword Presentation
20-Year Service Awards

The Department and each of the Camps presented gifts to outgoing DC Lance in gratitude for his many years of loyal service.  A nice GAR medal from the Department and a beautiful GAR presentation sword from Camp 2 were included with the haul.  There were service awards for 10, 15 and 20 years of membership.  Several Camp 2 members were recognized, including 20 year pins for Stephen Schulze, PDC and Michael Lance, PDC.  Commander Vander Meulen presented the Camp 2 Outstanding Brother of the Year Award to Brother Robert Riley.  Moments later DC Lance presented Brother Vander Meulen with the Department Outstanding Brother of the Year Award.  Congratulations to all the award recipients from Camp 2 and throughout the Department.

One of the main events of the day was an initiation ceremony.  We had several members in full uniform, a large meeting hall decorated with flags, charters and other regalia and a room full of Brothers as witnesses.  Three brothers were initiated, including our incoming Department Commander.  It was a truly impressive and well done ceremony.

Check back later for more once we sort through the hundreds of pictures and several hours of video footage.  And, of course, you can read all about it soon in the May issue of The Banner and in the June 2024 issue of our award-winning newsletter, The Harriet Lane.

Huzzah !!

Commander’s Address
CC Vander Meulen & Bro. Riley
Bros. Harold Sickler, David Rediger & Blair Rudy – The Color Guard
GAR Medal Presentation
DC Lance and CC Vander Meulen
JVC-in-C Tucker & DC Phillips
Initiation Ceremony
2024 – 2025 Officers
Group Picture

Highlights from the April 2024 Meeting

There was a really nice turnout at the April meeting.  Highlights included an initiation ceremony for our newest member, Leon Shaffer, and addresses by JVC-in-C Kevin Tucker and Department Commander Michael Lance.  We wrapped things up with our traditional post-meeting luncheon, this month at the Hunan Chef.  Great food and company!

GAR Lot Historical Marker Project

At our February 2024 Camp meeting we launched a project to fund and commission a Texas historical marker to honor the lives of 10 Union veterans buried in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) plot at Washington Cemetery in Houston. We need your donations to help us reach our fundraising goal of $3,000.

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Please help us by donating to the GAR Marker Fund. Visit the GAR Marker Fund page more for information, and be sure to check back here for updates as we turn this vision into reality!

The Boys in Blue Thank You!

Fraternity – Charity – Loyalty

The Camp 2 Bell

Department Commander Michael Lance and Camp Commander John Vander Meulen with the new Camp 2 bell, presented to the Camp at the February 17, 2024 meeting as a gift from SVC Daniel Pourreau.  The emblem above the bell is a replica of a civil war revenue cutter belt buckle to recognize the Harriet Lane, the ship on which Lt Commander Edward Lea and his comrades served and paid the ultimate price during the Battle of Galveston on January 1st, 1863.

The bell will be used to commemorate the fallen during the annual Battle of Galveston Commemoration Ceremony, and other commemorative events such as grave dedications.

Galveston Memorial Painting

After the Battle of Galveston Commemoration Ceremony and annual Installation of Officers, Brothers Michael Lance, Herb Powers and Daniel Pourreau returned to Trinity Episcopal Cemetery to refurbish the memorial to the fallen Union Soldiers. Using only tape, molasses, spray paint, water, and elbow grease, the monument was restored to its original condition. As Department Commander Lance said, “It looks like the day it arrived from Georgia!”

Huzzah!!

2024 Battle of Galveston Commemoration Ceremony

For the 30th consecutive year LCDR Edward Lea USN, Camp 2, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, will be conducting its signature event, the Battle of Galveston Commemoration Ceremony, at 10:00 AM on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at the historic Trinity Episcopal Cemetery in Galveston, Texas.

The event is open to the public and will include a musket firing Honor Guard who will render a salute to the fallen.

First Annual Camp 2 Christmas Party

On December 9, 2023 Camp 2 held its First Annual Christmas Party.  We were joined by members of the Ladies Auxiliary and the DUVCW, along with many spouses and guests.  The festivities kicked off with morning refreshments followed by a short meeting, then on to a potluck feast, door prizes and the traditional Ace of Diamonds drawing. The grand finale was a Clara Barton Ladies Appreciation pin raffle, which was won by Joyce Brock.  We also helped the Auxiliary celebrate their 27th Anniversary.  Good times were had by one and all!

The main order of business at the meeting was election of 2024 officers.  Brother Vincent Trovato was elected Junior Vice Commander.  Other officers are the same as in 2023, including Commander Vander Meulen, SVC Pourreau, Secretary/Treasurer Schulze (PDC) and Camp Council members Thomas Coughlin (PDC), Stevenson Holmes (PDC) and Ben Bonnet (PCC).  Thanks to outgoing JVC Hoffman and all the 2024 officers for their dedication and service to our order.