1) Members discussed a special activity for the July meeting (details TBA).
2) Members discussed plans to purchase and donate historical materials to local, state and national historical organizations.
NEXT MEETING: The June meeting of Phelps Camp will be held at the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Visitor Center on Tuesday, June 5 at 7 p.m.
DUES ARE DUE: Dues are still $30 (the same as 2011). Please make your check or money order payable to “Phelps Camp No. 66, SUVCW” and mail to:
John Rutherford
1329 S. Meadowview Ave.
Springfield, MO 65804
With many more 150th anniversary events on the horizon, we need the men of Phelps Camp to “re-enlist” and help the public remember those who fought and died to save the Union.
PHELPS GROVE MARKER DEDICTION CEREMONY: A number of Phelps Camp members and their families were part of the large crowd on hand to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Mary Whitney Phelps on Sunday, April 29. A new historical marker honoring the efforts of Mary Phelps to care for wounded Union soldiers, the body of General Nathaniel Lyon, and Civil War orphans was dedicated. Due to the threat of inclement weather, the event was moved to Trinity Lutheran Church. There, Phelps Camp members provided a Civil War color guard, (see attached photo) camp secretary John Rutherford delivered the keynote address, and several other members of the camp took photographs and enjoyed the program. Congratulations to Phelps Tent, Daughters of Union Veterans, for a successful program and for placing another monument to honor those who sacrificed so much for our nation.
PHELPS CAMP DONATES RARE BOOK TO THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI: On May 10, Camp Commander Greg Wait and Senior Vice Commander Jeff Patrick journeyed to Rolla, Missouri, and met with John F. Bradbury, director of the State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center there. Wait and Patrick officially presented the rare, original minute book of the Cape Girardeau camp, Sons of Union Veterans Auxiliary to the SHS (see attached photo). The minute book details the activities of the organization from 1920-1929. SUV Auxiliary material relating to Missouri is extremely scarce, and Mr. Bradbury was quite happy to add it to the Research Center’s collection.
CIVIL WAR COMMEMORATIVE “CHALLENGE COINS” AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE: The camp has purchased several SUVCW “Challenge Coins” for resale. Two designs are available—one for the Civil War 150th anniversary and one for the Grand Army of the Republic anniversary. Check out the designs: www.suvcw.org/SUVMerchandise/SUVOS_Sesqcoins.htm. These are priced to move at only $10 each! Jeff Patrick will have them available at upcoming meetings.
UPCOMING EVENTSJune 23-24: The U.S. Soldier at Wilson’s Creek (living history program at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield).
NEW ISSUE OF THE MISSOURI UNIONIST NOW AVAILABLE: Check out the latest issue of the Department of Missouri’s newsletter at www.suvcwmo.org/newsletter.php
CAN DO! We made another successful “run” to the recycling center, so please bring your cans to the next meeting so that we can rebuild our stock.
