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Archiver > SUVCW > 2008-04 > 1209596879


From: "Al Peterson" <>
Subject: Re: [SUVCW] We still have lots of work to do
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:07:59 -0700
References: <C43CA7D4.B2B%dhayes1@dmreg.com><3dace140804301111o1fd7136clb2755ea4c9176c52@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <3dace140804301111o1fd7136clb2755ea4c9176c52@mail.gmail.com>


Brothers, as the committee chairperson of the effort to restore Memorial Day
back to its original day, May 30th, I can tell you what we are doing here in
Las Vegas with Camp 12.

We just adopted a school here, we sponsored an essay contest with the
subject ABRAHAM LINCOLN, gave out awards to all who participated. We had
Lincoln attend the school to talk about Memorial Day.
We will be having another essay contest in another week at the school and
the subject will be what Memorial Day is? And when is Memorial Day?
This is another way of teaching our school children and yes, teachers as
well about our history.

Our Camp has also conducted living history programs in about 26 schools
throughout the Las Vegas valley during the past year, and always talk about
Memorial Day beside other things of the Civil War.

If any of you would like more information on what we are doing to promote
this effort and gather signatures and contacting publishers and newspapers,
let me know.

Thank you all for your thoughts and efforts.

Regards

Al Peterson

-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:] On
Behalf Of Doug McMillin
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 11:12 AM
To:
Subject: Re: [SUVCW] We still have lots of work to do

I share the opinions of brother Hayes. It does seem to be a cultural shift
that has led to complacent parents not exposing children to the same sort of
values and duties that were commonplace just a couple of generations
ago. The above mentioned Camp Grinnell is exactly the sort of thing we
should be promoting in every corner of the country. Bringing the history to
the kids, or in this case busing the kids to the history. Working with the
schools to provide what they clearly no longer can or will, whichever the
case or reason may be.

Beyond this, I sincerely believe that the SUVCW needs to get very dynamic in
bringing awareness to the masses. A well respected brother of the Order
said to me not two weeks ago that he fears that if the Order doesn't double
it's membership over the sesquicentennial of the Civil War the SUVCW will
not be here to observe the bi-centennial. I looked around the room and saw
more grey hair than not. Of thirty brothers at the meeting 3 were under
40. Of those three one was in his 20s and the other was a junior. This is
not a good statistic for an organization that once numbered 200,000 men.

I certainly do not intend to preach and if I do it is not meant to be to the
choir, but in all honesty I fear for our order and the future population of
this country both of which I hold very dear. If the core values of the
United States are to be preserved and it's history honored all patriotic and
hereditary organizations need to act in a very publicly visible way to
inform, educate and inspire.

Doug McMillin JVC
Gettysburg Camp #112
SUVCW


On 4/29/08, Hayes, Dann <> wrote:
>
> As a managing editor of a couple newspapers in Iowa, I venture to say that
> there is a lot of ignorance on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line.
>
> The basic notion is to blame the school system or something. I tend to
> blame
> society as a whole < the family unit. For the most part, people (families)
> do not honor veterans on Memorial Day. They take the day off and have a
> BBQ
> or go on a picnic or something. Parents can¹t teach their children what
> they
> don¹t know, themselves.
>
> There is an item going over the net (email) that some of you might have
> seen. It¹s about kids of today vs. kids of 20 or more years ago.
> Basically,
> it states that when we were kids we survived riding in cars (station
> wagons)
> without seat belts, didn¹t wear helmets when riding bikes, and actually
> played outside and, when playing games, we played board games and
> interacted
> with other folks.
>
> There is some truth to that.
>
> I am involved in a living history event in Iowa we call Camp Grinnell. The
> 8th grade kids go through seven stations on the Civil War. I don¹t think
> our
> goal is to teach the kids history. I think our goal is to show them that
> history can be interesting and that learning can be fun. It¹s almost a
> shame
> that we have to do this, but it works to some extent.
>
> I venture to guess that when they become young adults and start having
> children of their own, some of the things they learned at Camp Grinnell
> will
> come back. They¹ll remember eating hardtack and maybe they¹ll look up a
> recipe to help their kids make some at home.
>
> Most of the blame, if any can be placed, should go to a life cycle of
> sorts.
> Folks are moving to the cities. At least in my experience, I find that
> folks
> living in rural Iowa are much more patriotic, more willing to learn, and,
> basically, take the time to know their neighbor. I find less of that in
> cities. In fact, at Camp Grinnell, we will have some schools from the Des
> Moines area coming for the first time this year.
>
> I don¹t think it is lack of wanting to learn, folks just need the chance.
> We
> in the SUV can do that. With the CW Sesquicentennial on the way, this
> gives
> us a prime opportunity to make inroads into the schools. But I would warn
> to
> not expect anything to change, much. We can¹t be the teachers. But we can
> assist and we can show that history can be fun.
>
> Just my two cents worth.
>
> Dann Hayes
> Commander
> Sgt. N.F. Bates Camp No. 64
> Malcom, Iowa
>
>
>
>
> On 4/28/08 6:24 PM, "" <> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > I think there is more to it than playing hardball with the generally
> > ignorant (to include some politicians). This interview was in the
> South and,
> > quite
> > honestly, misperceptions, generated by certain groups, have
> been allowed to
> > thrive here over the years. Granted, not everyone down here thinks that
> way,
> > but considering the counterfactual perpetuation of "the myth," it's
> no wonder
> > that some have conveniently forgotten the facts (or chose to ignore
> them in
> > the first place) behind Memorial Day in this direction. Quite
> honestly, it's
> > time to "reclaim the field," and the coming Sesquicentennial lends the
> > perfect
> > platform to set the record straight. We can't afford to miss the
> opportunity.
> >
> > Robert Moore
> > PI, Maryland Dept, SUVCW
> > CC, Camp #1881
> >
> >
> >
> > In a message dated 4/28/2008 11:44:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> > writes:
> >
> > Thank you, thank you for the observation on this matter.
> >
> > This is exactly what our committee has been running into.
> > And a person who is in the media, who apparently went to school for
> > journalism, and they have no idea what's going on in this country.
> >
> > I would be more than happy to send her correspondence on Memorial Day,
> and
> > the "numbers" and the lack of knowledge that a great deal of our
> citizens
> > have in this regard. Please send me her name, address etc.
> >
> > I think it's about time we started playing hardball with the ignorant
> and
> > that includes our politicians in Washington, after all this is an
> election
> > year.
> >
> > In F. C. & L.
> >
> > Al Peterson
> > David Merchant
> > Committee to Restore Memorial Day back to May 30th
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used
> car
> > listings at AOL Autos.
> > (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)
> > The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) list received the
> blessing
> > of National in July 2007. It was established in January 2007 to assist
> in
> > disseminating information and seeking assistance to members, associates,
> and
> > potential members who have an interest in the SUVCW, GAR, the people and
> > events of the period of the War Between the States.
> >
> > The opinions expressed and information provided in messages are those of
> > individuals and are not necessarily the official opinions, views or
> beliefs of
> > any Camp, Department or National SUVCW.
> > -------------------------------
> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to
> > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the
> quotes in
> > the subject and the body of the message
> >
>
>
>
> The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) list received the
> blessing of National in July 2007. It was established in January 2007 to
> assist in disseminating information and seeking assistance to members,
> associates, and potential members who have an interest in the SUVCW, GAR,
> the people and events of the period of the War Between the States.
>
> The opinions expressed and information provided in messages are those of
> individuals and are not necessarily the official opinions, views or
beliefs
> of any Camp, Department or National SUVCW.
> -------------------------------
> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to
> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes
> in the subject and the body of the message
>
The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) list received the
blessing of National in July 2007. It was established in January 2007 to
assist in disseminating information and seeking assistance to members,
associates, and potential members who have an interest in the SUVCW, GAR,
the people and events of the period of the War Between the States.

The opinions expressed and information provided in messages are those of
individuals and are not necessarily the official opinions, views or beliefs
of any Camp, Department or National SUVCW.
-------------------------------
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