Commanding General's Comments

SONS OF VETERANS RESERVE

OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER

Major General

Robert E. Grim

Past Commander-in-Chief

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

REMEMBRANCE DAY 2019

On behalf of the Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR), which is the Military Department of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, I would like to encourage everyone to journey to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 23, 2019 and enjoy our 63rd annual Remembrance Day commemoration.

On November 19, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln journeyed to Gettysburg to participate in the dedication of the new National Cemetery for the soldiers who died during the three day battle fought at Gettysburg in July of that year. His brief remarks have become famous over the years and are now referred to as the Gettysburg Address. Remembrance Day in Gettysburg commemorates that event.

SVR members and their guest will start the day with a breakfast at the Wyndham hotel. Tickets for the breakfast must be purchased in advance from Colonel Donald E. Darby, SVR Adjutant. There will be no sales at the door.

At 11:00 a.m. the SVR will conduct our annual Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) ceremony at the Albert Woolson memorial located in Ziegler’s Grove at the Gettysburg National Military Park. Woolson was the last Union Civil War soldier; he died in 1956.

The Remembrance Day Parade will start at 1:00 p.m. I encourage the commanders of the units participating in the parade to attend our 9:30 a.m. parade briefing that will take place at the Wyndham hotel. All those planning to participate in the parade should review the rules regarding the parade.

We will close Remembrance Day at the Wyndham hotel with the annual SVR Original Military Ball. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door from Brig. Gen. Henry E. Shaw, Jr. SVR Deputy Commander. All the proceeds from the Ball are donated to the Gettysburg Military Park for monument preservation. To date we have donated over $86,000.

Remembrance Day provides an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the Battle of Gettysburg and our Civil War heritage.

Major Gen. Robert E. Grim

Commander SVR