Bradbury Camp
 
   

Bradbury Camp participants at Gen. Smyth Ceremony,
Wilmington, DE, 24 March 2007

 Camp News: 

Check out Kathy Dulin-Doedderlein's great photos of the 2008 Sgt. Jones Bradbury Memorial Ceremony (click here). Thanks to all who participated in the event and helped us celebrate  the Camp's 100th Anniversary! 

SUVCW

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) is a patriotic and educational organization dedicated to honoring the soldiers who fought to preserve the Union. We also proudly honor all those who have patriotically served our country in any war.

Membership

Despite the organization's name, most of us are actually great, ... , great grandsons of Civil War soldiers. However, men who do not have the ancestry to qualify for hereditary membership may become associate members. For more information, contact one of the Bradbury Camp Officers listed below. Details are also available on the Membership Eligibility and Application page of the National SUVCW web site.

Bradbury Camp

Bradbury Camp #149 primarily serves both Chester and Delaware Counties in Pennsylvania. However, there are no geographical restrictions and membership is open to individuals residing in other counties and states. We meet on the third Wednesday of each month, September through June, at 7:00 PM at the West Chester Municipal Building, 401 E. Gay St., West Chester, PA. A typical meeting consists of a business session during which we discuss and prepare for upcoming events and ceremonies. For a list of scheduled events, scroll down to the bottom of this page. Following the business session, we often have a speaker give a presentation on a topic related to the Civil War.

Our Camp is named for Sergeant Jones Bradbury. Sgt. Bradbury was a resident of Delaware County when he enlisted in the 26th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (PVI). He was wounded in 1863, but recovered and returned to active duty. His enlistment was completed in May 1864, but he re-enlisted for the duration of the war in the 99th PVI. He was subsequently captured and imprisoned at Andersonville, but was later paroled and again returned to his unit. He was mortally wounded on April 6, 1865, just 3 days before the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia surrendered at Appomattox. To read a more complete overview of his story, see the Life of Jones Bradbury page.

Some of the Camp's members wear re-enactor's uniforms, but many do not. Optionally, members may join a ceremonial, uniformed, military component of the SUVCW, known as the Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR). More details on the SVR are given below.

Additionally, there is an associate organization for women known as the Sgt. Jones Bradbury Auxiliary #149 to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. More details on the Bradbury Auxiliary are given below.

Camp Officers

Commander: G. Reed Howard   ( reedhoward@verizon.net )
Senior Vice Commander: John M. Brown, III   ( pacav6coi@aol.com )
Junior Vice Commander: John O'Neal   ( jaoarm@aol.com )
Secretary: Steve L. Parsons   ( sparsons@ctdi.com )
Treasurer: George Roccas   ( george.roccas@verizon.net )
Council: Bill Ogden, William Clinton, John Whiteside
Chaplain: Joseph Boyce
Guide: Walt Lawson
Color Bearer: Dan Cashin
Guards: Christopher L. Hersh and C. Aaron Shelton
Patriotic Instructor: Robert McGonigle
Graves Registration: William Ogden   ( wogden1942@verizon.net )
Historian: John O'Neal
Civil War Memorials: Andy Lefko   ( lefko94@verizon.net )

SVR

The Sons of Veterans Reserve component of Bradbury Camp #149 is known as Co. B, 26th PVI and is led by 1st Lt. Andy Lefko. The unit was created to provide a color guard for all ceremonies, parades and living history programs that the Bradbury Camp organizes or participates in. The unit is not a re-enactment organization, although some our members participate in such events.

If you are interested in becoming a member or wish to request that our unit particpates in an upcoming event, please contact Andy Lefko at lefko94@verizon.net.

Auxiliary

An Auxiliary unit strives to assist the Sons of Union Veterans in keeping alive the memories of our ancestors and their sacrifices for the maintenance of the Union. The Bradbury Auxiliary is led by President Judy O'Neal. If you would like more information, please contact Ms. O'Neal at jaoarm@aol.com.

2008 Events

Jan 08:  Planning Meeting, West Chester Municipal Building, 7 PM
Jan 16:  Camp Meeting, West Chester Municipal Building, 7 PM
 
Feb 12:  Lincoln Day Parade, Philadelphia
Feb 20:  Camp Meeting, West Chester Municipal Building, 7 PM
 
Mar 12:   Bradbury Camp 100th Anniversary 
Mar 17:  Gen. Thomas Smyth Memorial Ceremony, Wilmington
Mar 19:  Camp Meeting, West Chester Municipal Building, 7 PM
 
Apr 05:  Sgt. Jones Bradbury Memorial Ceremony, Calvary Episcopal Church, Aston, PA, 11 AM
Apr 12:  Appomattox Luncheon, Scranton
Apr 16:  Camp Meeting, West Chester Municipal Building, 7 PM
Apr 19:  SVC John Brown's Ancestor's Memorial Ceremony, Pottstown, 11 AM
 
May 03:  Gettysburg Maintenance Work & Play Day, 10 AM
May 21:  Camp Meeting, West Chester Municipal Building, 7 PM
May 22:  Coatesville VA Pizza Party, 7 PM
May 25:  SUVCW Memorial Sunday
May 26:  Kennett Square Memorial Day Parade, muster at 10:30 AM
May 30:  Memorial Day, Trip to Arlington National Cemetery
 
Jun 01:  Malvern Memorial Day Parade, muster at 12:30, Malvern Firehouse
Jun 18:  Camp Meeting, West Chester Municipal Building, 7 PM
Jun 19 - 21:  PA Department Encampment, Ligonier
 
Jul 12:  Annual Black Powder Shoot, Honeybrook
 
Aug 7 - 10:  National SUVCW Encampment, Boston, MA
Aug 23 - 24:  Skirmish at Hibernia Forge
 
Sep 17:  Camp Meeting, West Chester Municipal Building, 7 PM
Sep 20:  Gettysburg Maintenance Work & Play Day
 
Oct 15:  Camp Meeting, West Chester Municipal Building, 7 PM
Oct 25:  Ceremony for George Jenkins, 9th & 97th PVI, Green Mount Cemetery, West Chester
 
Nov 09:  West Chester Veterans Day Parade
Nov 11:  Media Veterans Day Parade
Nov 19:  Camp Meeting, West Chester Municipal Building, 7 PM
Nov 22:  Gettysburg Remembrance Day Parade
 
Dec 08:  Annual Christmas Dinner