Department
of North Carolina
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Department Order #12
Series 2020-2021
29 October 2020
Veterans Day 2020
Section 1: Thursday, 11 November 2020 is Veterans Day. “Veterans Day honors all of those who have served the country in war or peace – dead or alive – although it’s largely intended to thank living veterans for their sacrifices.” (www.defense.gov) The SUVCW original (1954) and updated Federal Charter (1998) states that we “cooperate in honoring all those who have served our country patriotically in any war.” (Updated Federal Charter, Sec. 200302, No. 3) According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day is “a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.”Section 2: What is a veteran? Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations defines a veteran as “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.” A quote by an unknown author says “A veteran is someone, who at one point in their life wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including their life. That is an honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer remember that fact.” Another unknown author said, “In war there are no unwounded soldiers.”
Section 3: The Department of North Carolina is very fortunate to have a history of strong veteran participation among its membership. Brothers, some of you serve or served as career military men, and some of you served as citizen soldiers. No matter how we served our country, we all made sacrifices, including our families, and especially our Civil War ancestors whose service and sacrifices are not forgotten.
Section 4: Brothers, you and your families should all be proud of your military service, and the sacrifices that you have all made. I also believe our Civil War ancestors would all be proud of our veteran status, since they were all very proud of theirs. To the Brothers of our Order that are active military or veterans, and to all veterans, Thank you all for your service!
Section 5: All Brothers and Camps of the Department of North Carolina are encouraged to participate in Veterans Day observances in their local communities. One of the “Purpose & Objects” of our order is to “cooperate in doing honor to all who have patriotically served our country in any war.” I call on you all to fly your flag from your house, attend a local ceremony, or visit a war memorial or cemetery. If possible, visit and flag graves of Union veterans in remote locations, so they aren’t forgotten. If nothing else, thank a veteran for his or her service. Many veterans have never heard the words "thank you."
So ordered this 29th Day of October 2020
Robert Alvin Crum, PCC
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
649 Reservoir Road
Burnsville, NC 28714
(704) 310-0382
robertalvincrum@gmail.com
Attest: K. Travis Masters, PCC, Department Secretary-Treasurer
