If you read my previous post about yesterday's presentation, you may be saying to yourself, "I didn't know there was a Sons of Union Veterans organization in North Carolina." Actually, there are five camps in the Old North State. In the west, there are camps in Asheville and Charlotte. In my neck of the woods there are camps in Fayetteville, Raleigh, and the newest in Morehead City. There is talk of developing two more camps, one in Wilmington and another in the northeastern part of the state around Washington/Plymouth.
Since 2000, I have been an honorary member (bestowed by a local camp) of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I have never paid dues to that organization, nor do I receive any of the usual member benefits such as the magazine, etc. I always enjoy doing programs for the various SCV camps in eastern NC; they are always very gracious and appreciative. However, over the past few years I've grown increasingly disgusted with the SCV's politics and have distanced myself from the organization. Since I have at least one known ancestor who fought for the Union (my parents are from Pennsylvania), I have decided it is time to join the SUV. I am filling out the paperwork now so that I can join the Morehead City camp, where I spoke yesterday. I already know a number of the men in that organization and am comfortable with the group. I am excited about joining, even though I doubt I'll be a regular meeting attendee (I already know that I will miss at least the next two meetings due to other obligations).
I have also decided to take this heritage group mania one step farther and join the Sons of the American Revolution. As I've gotten more involved in this time period, both from a work and reenacting standpoint, I have considered joining the SAR. I do have an ancestor, again from Pennsylvania, that fought in the conflict. I got the contact information for one of the family genealogists who I've been told can help me put together all the information I could possibly want. The closest chapter of the SAR is the one located in New Bern, just 45 minutes away. This application will probably take much longer, even with the professional genealogist's help, but hope that by the time 2010 rolls around I will be a member.
In the end, I'm not sure what's driving all of this. I'm not feeling any stronger connection to any of my ancestors than before. I guess I've just finally gotten around to doing these things that I should have done a long time ago, but never got motivated to do it. Now if I can prove that 1st Lieutenant was in my grandfather's line, I can work on the Military Order of the Loyal Legion!
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And the North Carolina chapter of the National Society of Daughters of Union Veterans, the Pennypacker Chapter.
I'm a member thru my uncle, Pvt. Alexander McCoy, NC Vounteers. He was captured at Beechgrove and died in prison at Richmond, VA.
The NCDUV and SUV helped with a memorial service for Alexander in 2004, to bring his forgotten memory back home, as he is in an unmarked grave in the National Cemetery in Richmond.
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