The Unionist – February, 2026

CLICK HERE to read about all of the latest Department of Texas and Louisiana happenings in the current issue of our newsletter, The Unionist.

National Encampment 2026 Hotel Reservations

National Encampment in Gettysburg (July 30 – Aug 2) is the one you do not want to miss! Word is that a very strong turnout is expected so now is not too soon to start making plans.

CLICK HERE for the hotel reservations page on the National website. THIS LINK will take you to the main information page.

Who is planning to go? Who is thinking about going? Let us know in the comments.

Here is a cool video from the 2025 Houston Encampment. It is not too long . . . see if you recognize anyone!

Galveston 2026

It was a spectacular day in Galveston on January 3, sunny but not too hot and just enough breeze to unfurl the flags, which made for some quality photo and video opportunities. Here is a nice group photo, a gallery with lots of pictures, plus a video at the end. All of the best and some of the rest.

Great day. Great event. Huzzah!

Commander in Chief Kevin Tucker, Department of TX and LA Camps 1, 2 & 18, ASUVCW, DUVCW, MOLLUS, DOLLUS, SVR, Texas Rifles, Harmony Lodge No. 6 and SCV Camp 2182 join forces for the 2026 Battle of Galveston Commemoration Ceremony.

Auxiliary President Vali Reyes Places a Rose at the Grave

Chaplain Dick Gray of Harmony Lodge No 6 and Department Chaplain Stephen Schulze PDC

CinC Kevin Tucker and the Ladies of Auxiliary #1

Dept SVC Vander Meulen and Jason Hoffman with CinC Tucker

Michael Lance PDC and CC Daniel Pourreau

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December 2025 Newsletter

CLICK HERE to read the latest issue of The Harriet Lane.

Did you know that the Harriet Lane is still on patrol? Yes, the modern-day version, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane, was commissioned in 1984 and sails the high seas from her home port in Honolulu, Hawai’i. Click here for the full story on Wikipedia.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

It will be hard to top our amazingly successful 2025 campaign but we are going to give it our best shot starting this Saturday, January 3, at the 32^nd annual Battle of Galveston Commemoration Ceremony. Setup starts at 8:30 and the ceremony begins promptly at 10:00 AM.

This year we are very happy to welcome SUVCW Commander in Chief Kevin Tucker, who will join us in the ceremony and conduct the installation of Camp 2 officers at our meeting immediately following the ceremony.

Click HERE for a map to Trinity Episcopal Cemetery.

We look forward to seeing you in Galveston!

Crown Hill Cemetery Veteran’s Day Celebration

Veteran’s Day week kicked off on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at historic Crown Hill Cemetery in Pasadena, TX. Many veterans are buried at Crown Hill including 2 Union veterans of the Civil War. The cemetery recently acquired and installed permanent headstones for these 2 veterans, 2LT Milton H. Lakin of Co. H, 97th OH Infantry and PVT Horace C. Plumb of Co. A 95th IL Infantry, which previously had only temporary markers. We were honored to be invited to the event by association President Mike Murphey and to participate in the dedication of the headstones. Brother Michael Lance, PDC was the Grave Guard and fired a 3-round Honor Guard volley with Brother Daniel Pourreau, CC acting as Captain of the Guard. Brothers Richard Carson and Robert Riley also represented Camp 2.

Opening Ceremonies

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Opening Ceremonies

Davis Marker Dedication Ceremony

On November 1, 2025 the brothers of LCDR Edward Lea USN, Camp 2 conducted a ceremony at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston to honor Captain Mahlon E. Davis, Company A, 21st US Colored Troops and to dedicate his new headstone, which was sponsored by Camp 2. They were joined by sisters from the Sarah Emma Seelye Ladies Auxiliary #1 and the Sarah Emma Edmonds Detached Tent #4, DUVCW.

Steve Brock, Stephen Schulze, PDC, ___, William Myers, John Schneider, Jr., Susan Berry, Cody Holcomb, Rebecca Feaster, Michael, Rappe, ___, Robert Riley, CC Daniel Pourreau, Lisa Riley, John Vander Meulen, PCC, Herb Powers, Michael Lance, PDC

Picture Gallery

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FRATERNITY – CHARITY – LOYALTY

September 2025 Newsletter

CLICK HERE to catch up on all the latest in the September 2025 issue of our award-winning newsletter, The Harriet Lane.

National Encampment 2025 in Review

Brothers of the Department of Texas and Louisiana

**Kneeling**: L-R: Todd Wilber, George F. Hansen, Larry Joe Reynolds, Blair G. Rudy, and Daniel B. Pourreau **Standing**: L-R: James K. Lea, Michael D. Rappe, William D. Myers, Cody N. Holcomb, Jason M. Kyle, Stevenson T. Holmes, Michael L. Lance, Donald L. Gates, John C. Vander Meulen, Stephen D. Schulze, Brook J. Thomas, CinC Kevin Martin, John E. Schneider Sr., Robert G. Riley, Timothy M. Phillips (partially hidden), Terry T. Sutton, Herbert W. Powers, Brian R. Glass, Michael K. Schneider, Ronald ‘Steve’ Brock, and Ben C. Bonnett **Not pictured:** Richard Carson, Harrison G. Moore IV, Paul Ridenour, William L. Swafford, Clifford F. ‘Butch’ Durham, Harold L. Sickler, Richard W. Erder, Mark Andrus and Beau B. Moore.

Sisters of Sarah Emma Seelye Auxiliary #1

Vali Reyes, Colleen Swafford, Annette Kinslow, Norma Pollard, Jana Marsh, Lisa Riley, Jill Schneider

The Honor Guard

GAR Charter Presentation

The Campfire

Remarks from Commander in Chief Kevin Tucker

The Pipes

Houston 2025 National Encampment

WELCOME TO HOUSTON!

On behalf of the Brothers of LCDR Edward Lea USN, Camp 2 and the Sisters of Sarah Emma Seele Ladies Auxiliary #1 we offer our sincere welcome and wish you all the best at the 144^th National Encampment of The Allied Orders of the Grand Army of the Republic, right here in the great city of Houston, Texas.

If you have questions or need assistance members of our Department of TX and LA Host Committee are here to help. Look for the name tags with red ribbons.