Ste. Genevieve SUVCW

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Ste. Genevieve SUVCW LTC Joseph Felix St. James
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Camp # 326 Ste. Genevieve, MO. The GAR existed until 1956. This practice continues today.

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) is a fraternal organization dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of veteran heroes who fought and worked to save the Union in the American Civil War. Organized in 1881 and chartered by Congress in 1954, SUVCW is the legal heir and successor to the Grand Army of the Republic. In 1866, Union Veterans of the Civil War organized into the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and became a social and political force that would control the destiny of the nation for more than six decades. Membership in the veterans’ organization was restricted to individuals who had served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Revenue Cutter Service during the Civil War, thereby limiting the life span of the GAR. In 1881 the GAR formed the Sons of Veterans of the United States of America (SV) to carry on its traditions and memory long after the GAR had ceased to exist. Membership was open to any man who could prove ancestry to a member of the GAR or to a veteran eligible for membership in the GAR. In later years, men who did not have the ancestry to qualify for hereditary membership, but who demonstrated a genuine interest in the Civil War and could subscribe to the purpose and objectives of the SUVCW, were admitted as Associates. Many GAR Posts sponsored Camps of the SV. In 1925 the SV name was changed to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), under which its federal charter was issued in 1954. The SUVCW is legally recognized as the heir to, and representative of, the GAR. Today, the National Organization of the SUVCW, headed by an annually elected Commander-in-Chief, oversees the operation of 26 Departments, each consisting of one or more states, a Department-at-Large, a National Membership-at-Large, and over 200 community based camps. More than 6,360 men enjoy the benefits of membership in the only male organization dedicated to the principles of the GAR — Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty. It publishes “The BANNER” quarterly for its members. The SUVCW National Headquarters is located in the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The SUVCW is one of five Allied Orders of the GAR. The other four Orders are: Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, Woman’s Relief Corps, Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Department of Missouri at the National Encampment in Gettysburg, PAL-R, Jim Pahl (Grant Camp), Ed Krieser (Phelps Camp),...
08/06/2026

Department of Missouri at the National Encampment in Gettysburg, PA
L-R, Jim Pahl (Grant Camp), Ed Krieser (Phelps Camp), Bob Amsler (Grant Camp), Gary Scheel (St. James Camp), Department Commander Mark Coplin (Grant Camp), Craig Mathews (Grant Camp), Sumner Hunnewell (Fletcher Camp) and Glen Alsop (Wilhelmi Camp)
Five of the Eight Camps in the Department of Missouri was represented at the Encampment

Went to a SUVCW National Encampment (Conference) in Gettysburg, PA. We went a couple days early and visited some of Get...
08/04/2026

Went to a SUVCW National Encampment (Conference) in Gettysburg, PA. We went a couple days early and visited some of Gettysburg Battlefield. One day we went to see the Battle of Antietam which is about an hour from Gettysburg.
This is my favorite monument that I saw on both battlefields.
It is simple but yet says it all.
These three ri**es were placed in a position known as Stack Arms.
This was the 90th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment Monument. It was across the road from the big monuments of different Pennsylvania Regiments.
On the bucket suspended from the stack arms says "Here fought the 90th Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) September 17, 1862. A Hot Place."
The reference of "A Hot Place" is talking about the fight they were participating in not the weather.

If you want to see some of the photos from the National Encampment go to this site https://www.facebook.com/SUVCW
08/04/2026

If you want to see some of the photos from the National Encampment go to this site

https://www.facebook.com/SUVCW

Preserving the history and legacy of the heroes who fought to save the Union during the Civil War

07/25/2026

Lt. J. Felix St. James Camp # 326 would like to express it's Sympathy to the U.S. Grant Camp #68 - SUVCW - St Louis, MO in the loss of their Member,

Brother Michael R. Hudson

07/23/2026

Resolutions of Respect

Headquarters of Lieutenant-Colonel J. Felix St. James Camp # 326
Department of Missouri
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

At a special meeting on the 22nd day of July 2026, the following resolutions were passed:

WHEREAS, It has pleased God, the Almighty Commander of the universe in His wisdom and judgment, to remove from our midst, by the hand of death, our esteemed Brother, Michael J. Schaaf; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the members of this Camp have lost a faithful and true Brother; the community an upright citizen and his family a kind Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather.

RESOLVED, That the members of this Camp wear the usual markings of mourning on their membership badge for thirty days,

RESOLVED, That we extend the bereaved family our sincere sympathy in their time of sorrow.

RESOLVED, That these resolutions be spread on the record of the Post, a copy be sent to his family and also a copy for publication.

Committee: Chaplain Paul Kist
Commander Ed Millinger
Junior Vice Commander Robert Bach
Robert Mueller, PCC
Gary Scheel, PDC
Captain Martin Aubuchon, Camp Guard Commander

Today we lost a good friend, an active member and someone who enjoyed activities that involved placing and repairing gra...
07/17/2026

Today we lost a good friend, an active member and someone who enjoyed activities that involved placing and repairing grave markers for Civil War Veterans and the ceremonies we always had to dedicate these markers.
Michael Schaaf early this morning passed away and went on to his eternal reward. He will be greatly missed.
One of my favorite memories is Mike found out that Private James Bryce Young of Company C, 47th Missouri Infantry Regiment lie in an unmarked grave in St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish Cemetery.
Mike was in contact with the family that cut the grass and maintained the church which was no longer an active church.
The plot of Private Young was discovered and the VA furnished a grave marker and we placed the grave marker.
In the second photo, from left to right Mike Schaaf, Gary Scheel, Reuel Smith and Ed Millinger that was taken on the day we placed it.
The building to the left of the grave marker is the Parish's Outhouse.
The first photo was on a much warmer day and shows Mike, who was our Camp Commander, leading the Ceremony to dedicate the Grave Marker.
The

07/17/2026

Brother Mike Schaaf passed away this morning. Our former commander and all around great guy, Mike will be missed by all who knew him and of him. Please display your black band for a period of thirty days.

Ed Millinger

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Michael J. Schaaf Obituary

In Loving Memory
Michael "Mike" Joseph Schaaf 75 years old of Sainte Genevieve, MO
April 27, 1951 - July 17, 2026

Survived By:
Wife, Sheila Schaaf, Sons, Jeremy Schaaf and Corey (Erica) Schaaf, Brother, Thomas "Tom" F. Schaaf, Stepdaughter, Shannan A. Wilson, Stepson, Eric W. Wilson; Grandchildren, Wade, Makayla, Lincoln, Lillie; Great-grandchildren, Emerson, Delilah, and Melody;

Preceded in Death By:
Father, Lloyd Schaaf; Mother, Eloise Schaaf; Brother, Robert "Bob" G. Schaaf;

There will be a private Graveside Service at Valle Spring Cemetery.

Family will have a Memorial Mass at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Mary at a later date.

In honor of Michael's life, memorial donations can be made to Valle Catholic School.

He was a member of Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and past President of Valle Athletic Club. Mike had a few nicknames throughout his lifetime including Moose, Mr. Mike, and Poodle. Mike worked hard at Mississippi Lime for years and was a meat cutter by trade. He found joy in simple things of life-sharing a hot cup of coffee, listening to St. Louis Cardinals Baseball, cheering on Valle Warrior Football, researching his family's genealogy and spending time with the people he loved; especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ed

07/10/2026

Somehow I made a reel. If you want to see it open the reel bar.

07/10/2026

Paul Kist, Bob Mueller and I participated in a Backyard Camp at First Baptist Church in Ste. Genevieve.
This is always one of my favorite things to do.
When you try to teach them to start marching with their left foot some do not get the concept.
So I teach them what I call the Civil War Shuffle (sometimes other names). It usually makes a difference and helps them start with their left foot afterwards.

Some more photos from the 250th Anniversary of the 4th of July Celebration conducted by the Lt. Col. J. Felix St. James ...
07/06/2026

Some more photos from the 250th Anniversary of the 4th of July Celebration conducted by the Lt. Col. J. Felix St. James Camp #326 SUVCW.
Our Chaplain Paul Kist is leading us in a prayer to ask God's watch care over us. Notice that two of our Ste. Genevieve Militia Brothers were in attendance. They stopped by on their way to the 4th of July Celebration on Kaskaskia Island.
Jon Kasten brought his cannon for display and he enjoyed telling visitors about it.
Paul Kist reading the Gettysburg Address.
Thank you Carol Kist for the photographs

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261 Merchant Street
Sainte Genevieve, MO
63670

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