LCDR Edward Lea USN, Camp 2 – Houston, TX

NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT COUNTDOWN

National Encampment is ONE TWO THREE FOUR week away!

Volunteers Needed

THIS PDF lists the volunteer opportunities available. Contact Brother Schulze if you would like to sign up.

Official Schedule

CLICK HERE for the Official Schedule on the National website.

National Encampment Reports

CLICK HERE to view an advance copy of the 144th National Encampment Reports.

This is a compilation of National Elected Officers, National Appointed Officers, National Standing Committees, National Special Committees, and Department reports to the National Encampment and Council of Administration for the August 7-10, 2025 meetings in Houston, TX. (Note: this link will expire on August 6, 2025.)

Important Dates and Other Information

  • Pre-Registration closed on July 19.  Contact Brother Schulze or your camp secretary for assistance with late registration.
  • Here is a link to the main information page on the Department website: National Encampment Information
  • Registrations for the SVR Breakfast on Saturday are due by July 11. CLICK HERE to register for the SVR Breakfast.
  • The deadline to order Encampment Gear is June 30 and word is the Department needs to stick to that. Get your orders in now or you may miss out. CLICK HERE to order your gear.

We look forward to seeing you in Houston!

Treue Der Union

Memorial Day 2025

Grand Army of the Republic plot at Washington Cemetery
Vali Reyes & Susan Berry salute as Steve Brock rings the Camp 2 Bell
Michael Lance, PDC, Michael Rappe & CC Daniel Pourreau
Susan Berry, Stephen Schulze, PDC & John Vander Meulen, PCC
Patriotic Decorations
The Allied Orders – SUVCW, ASUVCW and DUVCW
Auxiliary Sisters Vali Reyes (President) & Jana Marsh (Secretary) at the grave of Sarah Emma Seelye
Brothers Vander Meulen & Schulze
Present Arms
Brother Schulze gives the Divine Blessing
Red Roses to honor the dead
Union veteran buried at Washington Cemetery G.A.R. Plot
One of ten graves in this plot, and many others throughout Washington and adjacent Glenwood cemeteries
Welcome from CC Pourreau
Jana Marsh
Mary Anthony Startz, Vali Reyes, Jana Marsh & Susan Barry
SVC Powers calls the names of Union veterans
The Honor Guard
Fire by the Drum!
Shoulder Arms
Michael Lance, PDC, Michael Rappe, CC Daniel Pourreau, SVC Herbert Powers, William Myers, John Vander Meulen, PCC, Stephen Schulze, PDC, Steve Brock
Brothers Lance and Pourreau with Tommy Attaway (left), Howard Rose (right) and other members of the Texas Rifles. Prepared for Honor Guard ceremony on Memorial Day morning at Houston National Cemetery.

REPORT and PICTURES FROM 2025 DEPARTMENT ENCAMPMENT

The 31st Annual Department of Texas and Louisiana Encampment on May 10, 2025 in Houston was a big success.  We were so pleased to be joined by Commander in Chief Kevin Martin and National Auxiliary President Rosemary Martin as our guests of honor.  Congratulations to newly-elected Department Commander Brook Thomas, DSVC John Vander Meulen, DJVC Butch Durham, and to all of the 2025-2026 officers.

DC Phillips & PDC Schulze

Highlights for Camp 2 included the Camp Brother of the Year Award for SVC Herbert Powers and the Department Achievement Award, presented by Department Commander Timothy Phillips to our very own Secretary/Treasurer, PDC Stephen Schulze.

Now it is on to August when we meet again in Houston for the 144th Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War National Encampment.

Huzzah!

Front Row – DJVC John Vander Meulen, DC Timothy Phillips, C-in-C Kevin Martin, DSVC Brook Thomas, Steve Brock
Back Row – PDC Michael Lance, Robert Riley, PDC Stevenson Holmes, Bill Myers, Brian Glass, Butch Durham, PDC John Schneider, Sr., Terry Sutton, PDC Don Gates, PDC Stephen Schulze, Jason Kyle, Michael Schneider, Daniel Pourreau, Charles Reed, PDC Beau Moore, Bill Elliot, Herb Powers, Todd Wilber, Jason Hoffman, Michael Rappe, Todd Williams, Harold Sickler, PDC Blair Rudy Not Pictured – Paul Ridenour

OPENING

Nice turnout for lunch before Encampment
Delicious Texas BBQ
Daniel Pourreau, PDC Stevenson Holmes & Brian Glass
Todd Williams from Camp 18
Commander in Chief Kevin Martin & National Auxiliary President Rosemary Martin
Michael Schneider, Brian Glass & PDC Blair Rudy
Our wonderful Auxiliary sisters! Jill Schneider, Sarah Emma Seelye #1 President Vali Reyes, National President Rosemary Martin and Norma Pollard
Jason Hoffman, Brian Glass and The Book
Ready for Opening Ceremony
The Color Guard
Advancing the colors
Pledge of Allegiance
PDC Michael Lance escorts C-in-C Martin
PDC Lance escorts National Auxiliary President Rosemary Martin
Gifts!
More Gifts!

REPORTS

Patriotic Instructor Report from Bill Elliot
Secretary/Treasurer report from PDC Gates
Report from PDC Rudy
Camp 1 report from CC Glass
Camp 2 report from CC Pourreau
Camp 18 report from CC Schneider
John Vander Meulen – The Sound Man
Robert Riley – The Camera Man

DISPLAYS

G.A.R. and Woman’s Relief Corp Badges
The Charters
More G.A.R. Badges!
G.A.R. Uniform
Five Flags of the Department of Texas & Louisiana

AWARDS

CC Pourreau and Camp 2 Brother of the Year Herb Powers
PDC Gates and Camp 5 Brother of the Year Bill Elliot
Camp 18 Brother of the Year John Schneider, Sr. PDC and CC Michael Schneider
DC Phillips presents Department Achievement Award to PDC Stephen Schulze
PDC Schulze and C-in-C Martin
Bros. Rudy, Sutton & Schneider w/ Officer Certificates
C-in-C Martin, SVC Herb Powers & Michael Rappe
PDC Schulze, PDC Lance, C-in-C Martin & PDC Holmes
Department Officer Certificates of Appreciation

OFFICER INSTALLATION and CLOSING

Prepared for Installation
Taking the Oath
DC Thomas receives badge from C-in-C Martin
Past Department Commander badge presentation
Butch Durham receives Department Officer’s badge
Color Guard ready to close
Closing ceremonies
All done!

FRATERNITY – CHARITY – LOYALTY

RECEPTION PICTURES

Pictures from the C-in-C Reception held on May 9, 2025  at the home of Camp Commander Daniel and his lovely wife Dianne Pourreau.  Good times had by one and all!

Department Officers JVC John Vander Meulen, SVC Brook Thomas and Commander Timothy Phillips
JVC Jason Hoffman, Charles Reed, Katie Reed & PDC Michael Lance
Michael Rappe, SVC Herb Powers & DC Tim Phillips, at sunset
National Auxiliary President Rosemary Martin, Dianne Pourreau and C-in-C Kevin Martin
Standing – PDC Michael Lance, CC Daniel Pourreau, PDC Don Gates, Michael Rappe, Robert Riley, ___, PDC Steve Schulze, DSVC Brook Thomas, PDC John Schneider, Sr., Charles Reed, Terry Sutton, DJVC John Vander Meulen, Herb Powers, PDC Stephenson Holmes, DC Timothy Phillips, JVC Jason Hoffman
Seated – National Auxiliary President Rosemary Martin, Commander in Chief Kevin Martin, Jill Schneider

Commander in Chief Martin arrives for Department Encampment

It was a beautiful spring day in Houston for the arrival of Commander in Chief Kevin Martin and National Auxiliary President Rosemary Martin.  They were greeted by Department Commander Phillips and Department JVC Vander Meulen and then headed out to the ship channel in LaPorte for a tour of the San Jacinto Monument, conducted by Camp 2 SVC Herbert Powers.

Welcome to Houston!!