- By virtue of the power and authority vested in me as New York Department Commander, I am hereby requesting that all Department Officers, elected and appointed, along with Department Committees, Department Special Committees and Camp Commanders submit their mid-year Reports. Note, Department Colorbearer, Guide, Guard and Musician are exempt from this order. It is important that you file a report with the department. The reports should be brief, but concise with information on your activities. The department will use the reports to see how we are doing for the betterment of our order and for the upcoming encampment. The reports will also be used at a mid-year meeting when called and authorized by the Department Commander. Reports should be sent to the Department Commander by e-mail or by US Mail with a copy to the Department Secretary. The reports should be received on or before December 15, 2014.
- Copies of the mid-year reports will be available at the 132nd NY Department Encampment in Saratoga Springs, New York.
- At the May 3, 2014, 131st New York Department Encampment, SUVCW held in Rochester, NY, a resolution was passed by the membership: “a special committee be formed pursuant to Article X Committees, Section 3 of the By-laws of the Department of New York” to form a “Proceedings Committee” appointed by the Department Commander. The department is looking for two or three brothers to help collect reports from the membership for the missing department proceedings for the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 encampments.
- The purpose of the “Proceedings Committee” is to compile a proceedings record of the department activities for the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 that were lost. The proceedings will be separated by the years mentioned above. The types of records that will be requested, but not limited to, from the membership are Department Officers and Department Committee and Special Committee reports as well as Camp Commander reports. The committee shall make a report on their progress including recommendations and suggestions to the 132nd NY Department Encampment in Saratoga Springs, New York.
- It is now time to reflect back in time when Abraham Lincoln wrote the Proclamation below and when our Civil War ancestors celebrated Thanksgiving on a battlefield, in a camp, on a ship in port or out at sea. Many families celebrated Thanksgiving without their loved ones at their side due to the tragedies of war. Many Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Revenue Cutter Service men were homesick. Many months and sometimes years went by before they saw their loved ones again. At this time, we give special thanks to our Civil War ancestors and to all that gave the ultimate sacrifice in all wars to help keep us safe and free today.
- Washington, D.C., October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State
- As Department Commander and on behalf of the New York Department, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a safe holiday season!
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