Mark your calendars: at 1:00PM on April 28, 2013, Private John Watkins, a Civil War veteran currently lying in an unmarked grave, will be given his proper honors with the official dedication of his headstone. The ceremony will be at the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, CA. Two SUVCW Camps (Wright Camp 22 and Pleasonton Camp 24) are conducting the ceremony. Click here for details about the ceremony and a map to the grave site.
Congratulations, Daughters of Tent #94
Tent President Joy Huskey (R) receives her badge of office from National President Carole Morton
On March 23, 2013, the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War instituted their newest Tent (local chapter) in Sacramento. National President Carole Morton presided over the ceremony and installed the new Tent Officers. Newly-installed Tent President Joy Huskey, after receiving the official Charter for from President Morton, presented a certificate of appreciation to the Honor Guard. The Honor Guard was provided by Company B of the 8th California Regiment of the Sons of Veterans Reserve.
(L-R) Color Guard members Charles Ford, Jack Alcione, Jim Monteton, and Mike Meals
The DUVCW was organized on May 30, 1885 by Olive Howard, Harriet Knapp, Eva Merwin, Frank Merwin, and Bertha Martin – all young daughters of Union soldiers. The DUVCW is a heritage organizatoin, so all full members must have an ancestor who fought for the Union cause in the Civil War. In the most solemn part of the Tent Institution Ceremony, the names of the ancestors of the Tent members are read aloud. This list, known as the Roll of Honor, was read by SUVCW Brother Allen Davis.
Allen Davis reads the Roll of Honor
The new Tent is named in honor of Margaret Rhodes Crocker, a key historic figure in California’s Gold Rush and Civil War eras. She was married to Edwin Crocker, an attorney and member of the California Supreme Court during the Civil War. Leland Stanford, who appointed Edwin to the Supreme Court when he was governor, invited Edwin to join in his railroad enterprise after the war, and the Crockers became one of the wealthiest families in California.
Margaret lived quietly until a series of tragedies, including the death of two daughters and her husband in the 1870s. After these hardships, she began charitable work, putting the family’s railroad fortune to work by establishing stipends for needy families and contributing heavily to schools and churches. Her profile by the Sacramento Bee newspaper credits her with “one thousand and one little deeds of charity which have lightened many a burden.”
Daughters of Union Veterans – Institution of Tent #94
The Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War are establishing the Margaret Rhodes Crocker Tent#94 in Sacramento! A hearty HUZZAH! to the DUVCW and the new Sisters.
Camp 22 will be represented at the meeting, to be held on Saturday, March 23 at 10:30AM at the Sierra Point Vintage Senior Center, 5161 Foothills Blvd, Roseville, CA.
Memorial Service – San Luis Obispo
Camp 22 Officers with National C-in-C Mellor in San Luis Obispo
Camp Commander Jon Henry (far right), Junior Vice-Commander Jim Monteton (second from right) and Brother Brad Schall (far left) attended a Memorial Service held during the recent Department of California and Pacific Encampment. The Encampment was held at Camp San Luis Obispo on March 7-8, 2013. Standing to the left of Jim Monteton are Department Commander Tim Reese and National Commander-in-Chief Perley Mellor.