MICROSOFT The Railsplitter D EPARTMENT OF ILLINOIS A UGUST 2015 Department Commanders Report It has been a very busy summer for all of us in the Department of Illinois and the Sons Nationally. First the National Encampment in Richmond VA. Was attended by eleven Brothers from Illinois. Everything went very smoothly with no really long debates over issues of the order. Chaplain Jerry was reappointed as National Chaplain and I was appointed as National Eagle Scout Coordinator for the coming year. I received my Eagle Scout Honor in 1970 and I m also a Life member of the National Eagle Scout Association. When I told my wife that I had been appointed she was very happy that I was going to do this (not like most times when I take on more) and said They don t know how much Scouting means to you. This will be a build from the ground up project as it appears that nothing has be done for the last 18 years. We were able to write and receive a grant for $1,000 for the Dr. Stephenson Plaza project. In later Encampment discussion grants were changed to a $2,000 max with the ability of the CofA to add to a grant if moneys where still available from the funds. We will be asking that the SUVCW focus on the Dr. Stephenson Plaza project until it is finished as it is in memory of our founder. At the CofA meeting on Sunday Brother Ed Norris request was granted that a bench in the name of the SUVCW be purchased. The word about this project that we are heading up is spreading. Many of the Brothers that attended the Encampment did a great deal of sightseeing before and after the Richmond Encampment. I enjoyed hearing about those Battlefields that the Brothers traveled to and other Brothers that they met while learning more about the Civil War. I have been to a number of grave marker dedication and rededications in the past year and a half but none more moving than that of my Great Grandfather Horace Brewster Locke. On June 19, a very hot and humid day at Valhalla Cemetery in St. Louis, MO. we dedicated a grave marker 90 years to the day that he was buried. I send a very heartfelt thank you from my family to all those that attended that day. Our 2016 NE committee is still working hard and is looking for any Brother that would like to serve with them. This committee is open to all Brothers that wish to help, so get involved. It is not too late to get involved, just contact Brother Bill Johnson. We will take time at our Midterm Encampment to do an over view of the work that has been done so far and what will need to be worked on. Talking about our Midterm, please plan to attend as this is the time that we have together to talk face to face about our Camps and Department. Please pay attention to emails from Brother Aarli because he is passing on important information about upcoming events. Look forward to seeing all of you in Peoria on October 31. In Fraternity, Charity, & Loyalty James Locke Lyon I Department Commander Lincoln The Railsplitter Department Commander James Locke Lyon I
P AGE 2 D EPARTMENT OF ILLINOIS Please Remember:!!!! BRING YOUR DELEGATE CARDS!!!!! There has been a change to the Department Bylaws regarding voting at encampments. It is EACH camp s responsibility to follow and police the membership and rules accordingly. The new Department Bylaws have been added to the department website for viewing. Don t forget your Camp s Annual Insurance Premium of $62.50 is due with your Annual Camp Report Form 27 In Fraternity, Charity, & Loyalty, PCC Steve Aarli Department of Illinois Secretary Illinois Department Encampment Schedule Oct. 2015 Col. John C. Bryner Camp #67 Peoria May 2016 Gen. E. F. Dutton Camp #49 Sycamore Oct. 2016 Col. Friedrick Hecker Camp #443 Belleville Chaplain s Corner On August 19th I left my home for an early morning flight to the National Encampment in Richmond, VA. My wife and I kissed goodbye and wished each other a Happy Anniversary - it was our 48th year of marriage. One of the many things that we do to keep our communication and love alive is each morning we share with each other our "God Moment" of the previous day. What event did we participate in, be affected by or experience - that made us aware of God's Presence in our life. When I returned from the Encampment late Sunday evening, Jo- Ellen asked me The Question. Here was my response; Bob P. had asked for my support for his campaign as JrVice Commander of the Sons. I gave it to him two years ago. Early this year another friend Mark D. announced his candidacy for the same office. Both were
T HE R AILSPLITTER P AGE 3 close friends, both were highly qualified for the position, both had served the Order in numerous and important tasks and positions. Yet I cast my vote for the man I had promised it to. He lost. The other Brother won. My "God Moment" was that JrVice Commander Mark asked me to be his National Chaplain if and when he were elected Commander in Chief. Brother Mark knew that I had not voted for him, that I had campaigned for his opponent - and yet he asked me to be on his team. If ever there was a time when I felt the Hand of God on my shoulder, when I felt the love of the Almighty in my life - it was when he asked me to serve. In response to the Grace, I said yes. We are all faced with choices, and not all of them are easy. The important thing to remember is that GOD WRITES STRAIGHT WITH CROOKED LINES. We need to say yes when called upon to serve. In Fraternity, Charity & Loyalty Chaplain Jerry paptom@msn.com General E. F. Dutton Camp #49 Monument Dedication major success..
T HE R AILSPLITTER P AGE 4 Patriotic Instructor Report The Long Road of Meaning The long week I spent in Richmond was tough. Physically, emotionally, and I suppose spiritually on some level. Travelling through areas of the former Confederacy is not easy for SU- VCW members, even those with ties to the SCV like me. When I see dozens upon dozens of monuments and plaques, ranging from the larger-than-life statues on Richmond s Monument Avenue to lonely stones in pastures, like the marker dedicated to Stonewall Jackson s arm at Ellwood Plantation, I have to marvel at the memory of the American South. For most northerners I think it is hard to conceive why there is so much emotional attachment by southerners to the War. The be summation I have found to date explaining this attachment has been not from William Faulkner, the South s most eminent writer, but rather from a professor of communications at Southeast Missouri State University. Professor W. Stuart Towns reminds his readers in his book Enduring Legacy that even today, most southerners do not believe they lost the war. This enduring belief in victory has driven the United Confederate Veterans, the SCV, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy for over a century, and has influenced countless thousands more. To that end, I pose this question: What about us? Before attempting to offer an answer of sorts, let me illustrate some examples. The first is the image above. If you regularly attend the Lincoln Tomb national event in Springfield every April, you have probably walked by this little plaque a dozen times and have never even noticed it. This plaque quotes Abraham Lincoln and is placed across the green of the tomb in the manner of a mirror reflection. The stone and plaque mark the graves of the first two caretakers of the Lincoln Tomb, a father and son. For two generations, these men lived next to, watched over, and tenderly cared for the bodies of the Lincoln family. Today as I write this, Governor Bruce Rauner, a member of Lincoln s own political party, has introduced in his budget a measure to cut all funding for maintenance and care of the Lincoln Tomb. At this national encampment, a motion was put forth by Past Commander-in-Chief Charles Kuhn of Pennsylvania that the SUVCW donate all monies remaining in the monument restoration fund to the National Park Service at the end of each fiscal year for monument care and upkeep unless camps and departments spend all of it. As he made the motion, I could hear grumbling voices all around him. Their comment: not if the money is for Confederate monuments. When I went to last year s national encampment at Atlanta, I took the time to visit the battle-
T HE R AILSPLITTER P AGE 5 fields at Rome and Pickett s Mill with Bro. Leonard Cassaro. In the cemetery not far from Pickett s mill were several dozen Confederate soldiers buried together beneath their flag. One stood out. In the middle of the front row of Confederate dead was the grave of a private from the 89 th Illinois Infantry. His headstone was clean and the grass around it carefully trimmed, and the grave was marked with a small 35-star American flag. A member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans had taken the time to care for this man from our state. This Compatriot cared enough not only to maintain the grave, but mark with it with the battle flag appropriate to his life and unit. On my return from Virginia I took up residence in my new home and station at Carbondale, Illinois, and then I took a drive to hunt for monuments in this hitherto unexplored part of the state. On my arrival at Mound City National Cemetery I was stunned. In that cemetery there lie thousands, and I mean literally thousands of unknown Union and Confederate dead, mostly from the Battle of Shiloh. They were sent to the Sisters of the Cross hospital at Mound City, where care and mercy were rendered regardless of uniform color. Their graves lie unmarked except on Memorial Day, with numbers instead of names. At this juncture I suppose I should revise my earlier question to this: what does it mean to us? I would you that the entire American population of 1861-1865 knew the answer, as did their sons and their grandsons. Three generations away now we stand. In 350 days our state will be called to account and judgment when the national encampment circus rolls into Springfield. Starting now, we have to collectively answer the questions I have posed and act on our answers. It is time to move forward, keeping the past keenly in sight. What did it mean to the caretakers of the Lincoln Tomb? What did it mean to the unknown dead buried all across our state, neglected and forgotten? What did it mean to the people who erected monument and after monument that today lie crumbling, vandalized and equally forgotten? My answer is this: To them in the past and to the SCV and UDC today, the Civil War meant and means EVERYTHING. As we look down the steep slope to the 2016 national encampment, all of us in Illinois need to dig deep and answer the question. Comrade, Compatriot, Brother, and Son. What does that mean to you? After sitting through the national encampment this year and watching what I believe was our order marching backwards while our country continues to polarize as it did in 1860, I confess I couldn t answer the question myself, so I am giving the question some deep thought. Perhaps we all should. Left: PCC Gregory Carter, Department of Illinois Memorials Officer, National Patriotic Instructor.
P AGE 6 D EPARTMENT OF ILLINOIS 2015 134th National Encampment, Richmond VA The following are pictures are courtesy of Greg Carter and Paul Zeien Jr. Please enjoy. They are organized by event of the celebration starting with the Memorial Service,, and finishing with the Banquet
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T HE R AILSPLITTER P AGE 11 COL. JOHN C. BRYNER CAMP #67, PEORIA, IL On May 30th at 10:00 AM the Bryner Camp #67 held a ceremony at Mt. Hawley Cemetery in Peoria honoring Pvt. William Livingston on the 70th Anniversary of his death at age 97, May 30th 1045. Pvt. Livingston was the last civil war veteran in Peoria. Comrade Livingston was also the last Commander of Bryner Post #67 G.A.R. Photo Courtesy of FindaGrave
T HE R AILSPLITTER P AGE 12 GENERAL PHILIP H. SHERIDAN CAMP #2, CHICAGO, IL FORGOTTEN OSWEGO CIVIL WAR VETERANS RECOGNIZED As we now honor those last remaining members of our Greatest Generation who served during World War II, our ancestors noted the passing of the last Civil War veterans with reverence. As the last elderly veterans of that war slowly died off in the 1930 s and 1940 s, communities mourned their passing. Local veterans groups and fraternal organizations combined to provide elaborate military funerals for them. Large processions proceeded from local funeral homes to the cemeteries that provided their final resting places. Their experiences and sacrifices were recounted and lauded in local newspapers. Unfortunately, some of those heroes have been forgotten over time. Over the past several weeks 19 new grave markers have been installed at Oswego Township Cemetery on the graves of Civil War veterans. Twelve of these veterans have laid in unmarked graves since they passed away, some as long ago as during the conflict itself. Seven others are receiving new markers to replace older government markers that are no longer legible. This is the outcome of a year-long project undertaken jointly by the Philip H. Sheridan Camp # 2 of the Civil War (SUVCW) and local historian Stephenie Todd. The project was designed to rigorously identify and document all the Civil War veterans buried in the Cemetery, procure and install new grave markers on those graves needing them and straighten and clean the markers on the other Civil War veterans graves. The project was undertaken with the support of Oswego Township and the Cemetery Association. "This is something I've wanted to do forever at this cemetery," said Todd. "This project is an ongoing effort by the Sheridan Camp of the SUVCW. Bob Rogers, a member of Sheridan Camp # 2, noted that One of the primary goals of the SUVCW is to insure that all graves of Union Civil War veterans are identified and appropriately marked. To this end, the P. H. Sheridan Camp has been working in Chicago as well as the western and southern suburbs on these projects. Oswego Township Cemetery is our 11 th and follows completion of similar work at
T HE R AILSPLITTER P AGE 13 West Aurora Cemetery last year. Over 80 Civil War veterans are buried in the Oswego Township Cemetery. Most of the graves are for men who served from the Oswego area, including veterans of some notable units, including the 36 th and 127 th Illinois Infantries and the 4 th Illinois Cavalry. Additionally, there are graves of a number of veterans from other states who migrated to and settled in Oswego after the war. Todd and the SUVCW researched the personal histories of those soldiers buried in the Oswego area. Not only did it involve going through records that are hundreds of years old and difficult to locate, but also required tracking down descendants. Rogers noted that The markers we install are provided free by the U. S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Regulations required that the applications be made by descendants of the veteran. "Finding those descendants after all these years is often difficult, it is also the really fun part," said Todd. "Their stories are so interesting. The SUVCW contacted the descendants and helped them by preparing their application. In some cases they were unaware of what their ancestors accomplished. One interesting case was Robert Ridley Smith who served with Company E of the 66 th United States Colored Troops. All we initially knew about him was that he served in Company E of an African American unit and the name of his commanding officer, reflected Todd. Rogers noted that The SUVCW has expertise in verifying the service of Civil War veterans, even with limited information to go on. It s almost like detective work. But using the limited information we had, we went through Federal records for the United States Colored Troops and were ultimately able to prove Smith s service. Installation of the markers continues and the project team is awaiting the arrival of a final marker to make a total of 20 graves having new markers to insure that the service of these heroes from a bygone era are always remembered. The effort to straighten and clean existing markers began July 18 th and will conclude later this summer as part of an Eagle Scout project sponsored by Sheridan Camp # 2. Rogers remarked We like to take every opportunity to involve the local community in these projects. It is their heritage. We ve found from past projects that aspects of this work lend themselves quite well to Eagle Scout service projects and offer something out of the ordinary for the scouts. In this case, we re excited that Eagle Scout candidate Zach Cerny from Oswego s Troop 63 agreed to take on this work. A formal dedication ceremony for the new markers will be scheduled early in 2016. # # # Left Photos Photo 1 l to r: David Bailey, Jr (Sheridan Camp # 2), Gary Eagleton (Oswego Township) and Robert Rogers (Sheridan Camp # 2) prepare the site for the installation of a new marker. Photo 2 New marker for James Cliggitt Respectfully Submitted by: Br. David Bailey PDC
P AGE 14 D EPARTMENT OF ILLINOIS Brothers of the Department of Illinois, this is your opportunity to invest in the 2016 National Encampment hosted right here is beautiful Springfield Illinois. Please consider purchasing an Encampment Bond such as the one shown above. These can be purchased in any denomination. So ask your camp, friends, relatives, etc. We are also selling Ancestor Memorials for the program that is issued to the encampment attendees, honor your civil war ancestor. For more information please contact: Br. Bill Johnson at mymymagic@yahoo.com
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P AGE 16 D EPARTMENT OF ILLINOIS National Encampment Recap My dear brothers, Respectfully Submitted: Br. Harry William Reineke IV Once again, the National Organization met in the National Encampment, which is the ultimate governing body of the Sons. In the official back and for between our Allied Orders, the wish is almost always made for a successful and harmonious Encampment. I'm please to report that the 134 th National Encampment did, for the most part, live up to those expectations. Business was brought before the Encampment and voted on. With few exceptions, debate was short, brotherly, and informative. The business sessions were will presided over, the social times were enjoyable, and the fraternity was alive. Illinois had an over-full delegation. All of our voting seats were taken, and we were also represented by our Department Commander and at least 1 Past Department Commander. During the officer reports, our dear Brother from Illinois, Greg Carter, gave a report on his activities as the National Patriotic Instructor, his highest office to date in our order. His two-and-a-half page report included all of the necessary information, including the fact that most of the departments sent in no report to the Patriotic Instructor this year. Sadly, this included Illinois. Of his four recommendations, he immediately dispensed with two, but kept recommendations to examine the makeup of the National Committee on Americanization and Education, and taking a census of Brothers that have received our ROTC/JROTC awards. Sadly, because some of our Brothers didn't understand what Brother Greg was attempting to accomplish (a wakeup call that the Status Quo is not necessarily working much of the time) none of his recommendations received any traction. We can hope, in the spirit of Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty, that we, along with our Brothers, wake up and realize that there are some problems that need to be fixed, and they're not always obvious. I want to personally thank Brother Greg for his exemplary year as our National P.I. He has done the Department of Illinois proud. Also this year, once again, dual membership was brought before the Encampment, specifically with regard to a Brother paying the National dues twice. Last year, a motion was made and approved that the Commander in Chief would form a committee to examine the issue for implementation. Unfortunately, Brother Tad was so busy this year (mostly in airports) that the committee never formed. After some lively discussion, the motion from last year was made again, voted upon again, and the new CinC is charged with this task. Other measures proposed included an automatic transfer of rank to Past CinCs to take up membership in a new Department (passed), changes in the job descriptions for Historians at every level of the Order (passed), and allowing appointed National Officers to wear the National badge (not passed). Several others were also considered. Business was punctuated with the giving of awards, which included our own SVC Brother Paul Zeien being recognized for his great work on the Railsplitter! In ended with the election of officers (more on that later). Socially, the Encampment had the typical programs, a Campfire program, culminating in
T HE R AILSPLITTER P AGE 17 the ceremony honoring the outgoing CinC and National President of the Auxiliary. The Fife and Drum corps was great, and one young lady in the Corps, wearing Union Blue, spoke about her inspiration to get into studying the Civil War, which included a request that we remember the average age of a soldier was early 20s. Many of the men on both sides, she said, were young, and we need to honor their memory for their bravery. During the casual ribbing of the CinC and NP, the Illinois delegation presented Tad with a brick for the Stephenson Plaza, a drawing by Brother Chuck Wright of Camp 2, and a selfie stick from Department Guide/Guard Harry Reineke IV (yours truly). After the business was completed Saturday, the banquet was held. At the banquet, the Commander in Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans spoke, and presented PCinC Campbell with a resolution of thanks from the SCV. Brother Tad also gave out 2 National level Dr. Mary Walker awards. One thing I noticed through all of this was that Illinois had very little representation from the Auxiliary. I hope to bring this up at the next Encampment, to find out how we, as the Sons, can promote and grow our Auxiliary right here in Illinois. But I digress. The social life of the Encampment showed me, once again, that I am in the right place being in the SUVCW. I have hope for the future of our Order, I got much advice on how to advance personally, in light of my membership in the Order, how I can grow as a man and as your Brother. I am really proud whenever I pin on my membership badge. Of course, no National Encampment of our Order would be complete with out the election of the new officers for the coming year. With Brother Tad stepping down, the elections for CinC, and Senior Vice CinC were no-brainers; Brother Eugene Mortorff from the Department of the Chesapeake was elected CinC after a wonderful nomination by PCinC Andy Johnson, and Brother Don Martin of Ohio was elected to serve as SVCinC. The election for Junior Vice CinC was a contested seat. Both Brother Mark Day of the Chesapeake and Brother Bob Petrovic of Missouri (known throughout our Department for chairing the Lincoln Tomb observance) were battling for the seat. From Illinois, Brother Day got most of our votes, and the same held true throughout the voting. Brother Petrovic was again defeated for the JVCinC seat, and again by a margin of 2 to 1. It is unclear at this time if he will attempt to run for it again next year. Two seats for the council were up for election. Brother Don Shaw handily won his seat back, and Brother John McNulty of Pennsylvania won the other seat by 2 votes. With new elected officers comes new appointed officers. I want to offer my personal congratulations to our Department Chaplain, Brother Jerry Kowalski, for his appointment back to the National Chaplaincy after a one-year sabbatical. I'm beginning to wonder if he'll still be holding that seat many years from now when we bid him our final good-bye. He really has been a mainstay for many years as the National Chaplain, and he probably feels right at home performing those duties again. Another Illinois Brother given a National position is our own Department Commander, Jim Lyon, who takes one hat from Bob Petrovic, and is now serving as the National Eagle Scout Coordinator. We know that Brother Jim will take the office, and the award, to a level so far unseen, as he has more interest in and care for the Boy Scouts of America than anyone I know. I wish the best of luck to Brothers Jerry and Jim as they serve the National Organization, providing great representation from Illinois. Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty is our motto, the principles on which the Allied Orders are founded, and even though we struggle with them at times, they are still fully alive throughout much of our Order, and among our Sisters in the Allied Orders. Thank you, Brothers, for the opportunity to serve you and our Department once again as a delegate to the National Encampment.
P AGE 18 ROTC News. Br. William Shipper of Dutton Camp #49 is looking for help with ROTC ceremonies. This is the future of our country please help if you are able. For more information please contact Br. Shipper at: loki10sam12@gmail.com D EPARTMENT OF ILLINOIS 2015-2016 Department of Illinois Officer Department Commander : James L. Lyon PCC/PDC Dept. Senior Vice Commander: Paul T. Zeien Jr. PCC Dept. Junior Vice Commander: John Bigwood PCC Dept. Secretary: Steve Aarli PCC Dept. Treasurer: William Johnson Dept. Council #1: Nick Kaup PDC Dept. Council #2: Terry Dyer PDC Dept. Council #3: Garry Ladd PCC WE DID IT! The Railsplitter Newsletter was awarded the Marshall Hope Award for 2014-2015. I wish to thank all of you that have submitted articles, pictures, etc. throughout the year. Thank you all for your support. Thank you Past Commander-in-Chief Campbell for selecting us. zeien01@gmail.com 815-298-5866 Paul T. Zeien Jr. Editor Secretary / Eagle Scout Coord. / ROTC Coord. / Signal- Officer Logan Camp #26 Department of Illinois Senior Vice Commander Department of Illinois Signal Officer National Photographer