Col. Robert Gould Shaw
Camp 54
Winner of the 2024 Abraham Lincoln Commander-in-Chief''s Award for being the most outstanding Camp in the Order
WELCOME
Do you have an interest in the Civil War?
Founded in 1881, we are a congressionally chartered charitable fraternal organization that preserves the history and legacy of the Union veterans who fought during the Civil War to preserve the Union and end slavery.
When you join you enter a national network of men who form lifelong bonds, honor their heroic ancestors, and promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism in their communities. Based on the principles of Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty, we accept both descendants of Civil War veterans and non-descendants.
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Our Purpose and Objects
To perpetuate the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the men who saved the Union 1861 to 1865; to assist in every practicable way in the preservation and making available for research of documents and records pertaining to the Grand Army of the Republic and its members; to cooperate in doing honor to all who have patriotically served our country in any war; to teach patriotism, and the duties of citizenship, the true history of our country, and the love and honor of our Flag; to oppose every tendency or movement that would weaken loyalty to, or make for the destruction or impairment of our constitutional Union; and to inculcate and broadly sustain the American principles of representative government, of equal rights, and of impartial justice for all.
Winner of the 2024
Abraham Lincoln Commander-In-Chief's Award
for most outstanding Camp in the Order!
Award presented by Commander-In-Chief Peter Hritsko at the 2024 National Encampment in Lexington, KY
Officers of the Camp
The Camp is made up of both elected officers and appointed officers.
Elected officers are chosen by voting at an annual meeting of the camp for the purpose of selecting officers for the upcoming year.
Appointed officers are appointed by the Camp Commander when taking office.
Elected Officers
Ronald Glidden
Camp Commander
The purpose of the office of Commander is to direct and provide oversight of Camp operations in order to foster and promote the goals and objects of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
Joseph "Skip" Davis
Camp Senior Vice Commander
The purpose of the office of Senior Vice Commander is to assist the Commander, promote the Order and preside at Camp meetings in the absence of the Commander.
Nicholas Cerruto
Camp Junior Vice Commander
The purpose of the office of Junior Vice Commander is to assist with the recruitment and retention of Brothers (Members, Associates, and Juniors).
Camp Council
Daniel Johnson, Peter Preble, Todd Bryda,
The purpose of the three-member Council is to devise and recommend measures to help ensure the financial stability of the Camp and to fill vacancies which may occur in elected Camp.
Donald R. Denning Jr.
Camp Treasurer
The purpose of the office of Treasurer is to serve as custodian of Camp or Department monies and property, to keep accurate financial records and to prepare periodic financial reports.
Roderick Fraser
Camp Secretary
The purpose of the office of the Secretary is to keep the minutes of the meetings and to carry on necessary correspondence for the Camp or Department.
Appointed Officers
Nicholas Cerruto
Camp Patriotic Instructor
The purpose of the office of Patriotic Instructor is to educate and provide Brothers and the general public with information that will help to foster patriotism among the membership and the populace in general.
Kevin Tucker
Camp Counselor
The purpose of the office of Counselor is to serve as a legal advisor to the Commander and to the Camp.
Camp Historian
The purpose of the office of Historian is to collect and preserve all historical and biographical material pertaining to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) and its membership.
Camp Memorials Officer
The purpose of the Camp Civil War Memorials Officer is to coordinate the locating, physical examination of, and recording of all memorials dedicated to Union Civil War soldiers and sailors (outside the care of the National Military Parks, and the U.S. Departments of Defense, or Veterans' Affairs) within their respective geographic boundaries. This includes all sizes of monuments (with or without sculpture), those with Civil © 1881-2022, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, A Congressionally-Chartered Corporation. As amended through the 141st National Encampment August 2022, Grand Rapids, Michigan Annotations amended through the 138th National Encampment August, 2019, Independence, Ohio 47 War era cannon and inert ammunition, memorial fountains, memorial buildings, memorial windows (stained glass), historical markers, and even small plaques.
Daniel Johnson
Camp Guide
The purpose of the Camp Guide is to assist the Commander in the floor work of the Ritual during the Camp or Department meeting and to follow any orders given by the Commander.
Rev. Peter M. Preble
Camp Chaplain
The purpose of the office of Chaplain is to conduct such devotional services as directed by the Camp or Department. The Chaplain shall perform such duties as are prescribed by the Ritual of the Order or indicated by the official forms, or directed by the Commander.
Camp Graves Registration Officer
The purpose of the Graves Registration Officer is to locate, record, ascertain the condition of and bring to the attention of proper authorities the need for repair or replacement of the grave markers/memorials of Civil War veterans buried in the jurisdiction of the Camp or Department.
Past Camp Commanders
