LCDR Edward Lea USN, Camp 2 – Houston, TX

Snapshots from Memorial Day 2024

On Memorial Day 2024, the Brothers of Camp 2 came together in a ceremony with the ladies of the Sarah Emma Seeley Ladies Auxiliary #1 and the Sarah Emma Edmonds Detached Tent #4, DUVCW to remember the Union veterans buried in the G.A.R. plot in Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

Glenwood Cemetery
Auxiliary Pres. Vali Reyes & CC John Vander Meulen
Members of the DUVCW
Rev. Ross Waggoner
Herb Powers
Steve Brock & The Camp 2 Bell
Glenwood GAR Plot
Michael Lance, PDC, Michael Rappe, SVC Daniel Pourreau & Stephen Schulze, PDC – The Honor Guard
The Honor Guard in action
Michael Lance, Dan Pourreau & 13th US at Houston National

MAY MEETING CHANGED TO ZOOM ONLY DUE TO STORMS

Greetings everyone, Last night’s storm caused power outages to significant portions of Houston – including the Trini Mendenhall Community Center where our Camp meeting was scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday). Calls to the Center have gone unanswered and their Facebook page indicates they are closed today and tomorrow.

Therefore, our Camp meeting tomorrow will be via 100% Zoom. 

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible. Let me know if you have any questions.

In F, C & L,

John Vander Meulen

Camp Commander

MEMORIAL DAY 2024

The brothers of Camp 2 will be joined by the Ladies Auxiliary and DUVCW to honor Civil War veterans this Memorial Day at the GAR Plot in Glenwood Cemetery.  The ceremony begins at 1PM.  Note that this is a later start time and different location that in prior years (same big cemetery area, different plot).  Click Here for a map.

We will also take part in the color guard at Houston National Cemetery along with The 13th US.  If you are interested in putting on a uniform and participating contact Michael Lance, PDC or SVC Daniel Pourreau for more information.  The ceremony begins at 9am but you need to plan ahead and be there early.  There will not be opening and closing cannon fire at Houston National this year so there will be plenty of time to take in both events . . . maybe even have lunch in between!

REPORT FROM 2024 DEPARTMENT ENCAMPMENT

The 30th Annual Encampment of the Department of Texas and Louisiana was held in Plano, TX on May 4, 2024.  The festivities began Friday evening with a reception at the home of Bro. Don Gates, PDC.  There was a Saturday morning brunch then on to the meeting, which was called to order promptly at 1pm by Department Commander Michael Lance.  Junior Vice C-in-C Kevin Tucker was on hand to address the Encampment and bring greetings from Commander-in-Chief Hritsko.

The big highlight for Camp 2 was that our very own Commander John Vander Meulen was elected Department JVC.  Congratulations Brother John!  Congratulations are also in order for our newly elected Department Commander, Brother Timothy M. Phillips, Camp 1, and Department SVC Brook J. Thomas, Camp 18. Other Department officers from Camp 2 installed by JVC-in-C Tucker include Stephen Schulze, Chaplain;  Daniel Pourreau, Registrar; Terry Sutton, Graves Registrar; Michael Lance, Historian and John Vander Meulen, Signals Officer.

GAR Sword Presentation
20-Year Service Awards

The Department and each of the Camps presented gifts to outgoing DC Lance in gratitude for his many years of loyal service.  A nice GAR medal from the Department and a beautiful GAR presentation sword from Camp 2 were included with the haul.  There were service awards for 10, 15 and 20 years of membership.  Several Camp 2 members were recognized, including 20 year pins for Stephen Schulze, PDC and Michael Lance, PDC.  Commander Vander Meulen presented the Camp 2 Outstanding Brother of the Year Award to Brother Robert Riley.  Moments later DC Lance presented Brother Vander Meulen with the Department Outstanding Brother of the Year Award.  Congratulations to all the award recipients from Camp 2 and throughout the Department.

One of the main events of the day was an initiation ceremony.  We had several members in full uniform, a large meeting hall decorated with flags, charters and other regalia and a room full of Brothers as witnesses.  Three brothers were initiated, including our incoming Department Commander.  It was a truly impressive and well done ceremony.

Check back later for more once we sort through the hundreds of pictures and several hours of video footage.  And, of course, you can read all about it soon in the May issue of The Banner and in the June 2024 issue of our award-winning newsletter, The Harriet Lane.

Huzzah !!

Commander’s Address
CC Vander Meulen & Bro. Riley
Bros. Harold Sickler, David Rediger & Blair Rudy – The Color Guard
GAR Medal Presentation
DC Lance and CC Vander Meulen
JVC-in-C Tucker & DC Phillips
Initiation Ceremony
2024 – 2025 Officers
Group Picture

Highlights from the April 2024 Meeting

There was a really nice turnout at the April meeting.  Highlights included an initiation ceremony for our newest member, Leon Shaffer, and addresses by JVC-in-C Kevin Tucker and Department Commander Michael Lance.  We wrapped things up with our traditional post-meeting luncheon, this month at the Hunan Chef.  Great food and company!

GAR Lot Historical Marker Project

At our February 2024 Camp meeting we launched a project to fund and commission a Texas historical marker to honor the lives of 10 Union veterans buried in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) plot at Washington Cemetery in Houston. We need your donations to help us reach our fundraising goal of $3,000.

Pay with PayPal

Please help us by donating to the GAR Marker Fund. Visit the GAR Marker Fund page more for information, and be sure to check back here for updates as we turn this vision into reality!

The Boys in Blue Thank You!

Fraternity – Charity – Loyalty