Author: cincycompatriot

Memorial Day 2019: A Day of Remembrance

For Immediate Release:
May 17, 2019

2018.05.28 SUV Memorial Day, Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati 030

Memorial Day: Let Us Never Forget

(Cincinnati, OH) –  On Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), the 6 TH Ohio Volunteer Infantry and the Sister Anthony O’Connell Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (ASUVCW), will present their annual Memorial Day commemoration service in the Civil War section at the beautiful, historic Spring Grove Cemetery. This year’s special guest speaker will be LtCol Kirk Griener, USMC.

As people across the country enjoy picnics, visit the beach, spend time with family, and enjoy the long weekend that represents the start of the summer season. The SUVCW, 6th OVI, and ASUVCW would like to remind Americans that there is a far more significant meaning to Memorial Day that should not be forgotten. Memorial Day is a time to publicly show our respect for those who have lost their lives in defense of our country and to keep alive the memory of their sacrifices.

Each year on Memorial Day weekend, Spring Grove cemetery pays tribute to all of the veterans interred at Spring Grove with 5 days of activities. The Memorial Day commemoration ceremony will begin at 11:00 AM on Monday the 27th and will feature:

  • Color guard
  • Gun salute
  • Presentation of wreaths
  • Talk by LtCol Kirk Griener, USMC
  • Taps
  • Historic Scattering of Rose Pedals on graves

LtCol Greiner’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with “V”, the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.

Following the ceremony, Steve Ball, Civil War musician will perform authentic Civil War music. At. 12:30, President Abraham Lincoln will give a few remarks. A Tour of the cemetery will begin at 1:15.

Contact:
Todd Mayer
Camp Commander, Gen William H. Lytle Camp, SUVCW
(513-304-6092)
Todd.Mayer@ge.com

Additional biographical information available

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Lytle Camp presents SUVCW JROTC Award at Scarlet Oaks

In the photo from left to right: Brother Jim Cobb, Cadet David Goad, Brother Jim Houston

Brothers Jim Cobb and Jim Houston presented the SUVCW JROTC Award to Cadet David Goad at the Scarlet Oaks Awards Banquet on Wednesday, 2 May. Cadet Goad is a junior at Scarlet Oaks and is Naval Science 1 drill commander. He is involved in the rifle team and participates in the color guard. Upon completion of the NJROTC program next year he plans to join the U.S. Navy.

Miami University ROTC Awards Presented by General William H Lytle Camp #10

By Denny Brown

On Saturday 21 April 2018 at Miami University, I had the high honor and privilege to present two certificates to Midshipman Paul Kenney and Cadet Brian Park.

Paul has been studying mechanical engineering with a minor in Russian. He expects to be stationed at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida upon graduation. He is a native of the Chesapeake Bay area in Maryland.

Brian has majored in political science and will enter an intelligence program at Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas. He is from Columbus.

Both said they have never really traveled much in the south. I said, “your time will come”. I think our country is in good hands with these fine young men!

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LYTLE CAMP ATTENDS BOY SCOUT TROOP 741 EAGLE SCOUT COURT OF HONOR

By Brother Jim Houston

At the invitation of Eagle Scout candidate, Will Scheffter, Camp members attended the Eagle Scout Court of Honor held on Saturday, November 25 at St. Louis Catholic Church in Owensville, OH. The Camp was represented by Jim Crane, Denny Brown, Larry Collins, Jim Houston, Mike Mershon (and wife). At this time Will and Ryan Nickolette were awarded the Eagle Scout rank.

On behalf of the Camp, Jim Houston presented a Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Certificate of Commendation during the ceremony. A Certificate was also provided to Ryan at a later date.

Will’s Eagle Scout project involved constructing a memorial Civil War cannon placed at St. Louis Catholic Cemetery along with a memorial tablet listing Union Civil War veterans buried in the Cemetery. The Lytle Camp assisted Will in documenting listings of the veterans for the tablet and provided partial funding of the project through the SUVCW Memorial Fund and the SUVCW Charitable Foundation. A dedication ceremony was held at the Cemetery on December 4, 2016.

Local Camp of Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Returns to Memorial Hall

http://local.cincinnati.com/share/story/256833

SonsOfUnionVeteransOfTheCivilWar

Top L to R: Jim Houston, Kerry Langdon, David Stockdale, William West, Larry Collins, Woody Cook, Robert Kidd. Middle L to R: Michael Mershon; Thomas Reckner, Peter Sturdevant, Phillip Kidd, Richard Davis Bottom L to R: Ralph Kidd, Todd Mayer, James Crane, Denny Brown

On Saturday, November 11th, Veterans Day, Lytle Camp 10, Department of Ohio, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, became the first fraternal Civil War organization to hold an official ceremony in over 60 years at the Historic Hamilton County Memorial Hall in downtown Cincinnati. Over 30 members and guests attended the Camp installation of the 2018 Officers, as Commander Larry Collins relinquished command of the Camp to Commander Colonel (R) Todd Mayer. Commander Mayer was sworn in to his post using a bible that has been in passed down through the generations since 1880s. Awards were given out to Camp members for their contributions to the Camp throughout the 2017 campaign. Additionally Commander Collins and National Auxiliary leader Wanda Langdon received gifts of appreciation for all of their contributions to the Camp. Commander Collins last act as Commander, was to recognize the contributions of Camp co-founder Jim “Tex” Houston. Brother Houston was awarded a life time achievement plaque for all he has done for the Camp over the years. The plaque has an image of General Lytle, and an image of our membership badge.

After the ceremony, and the meeting was closed, members went upstairs to listen to the Guest speaker, our very own Brother Richard Davis. He delivered an outstanding talk on the GAR, GAR history in Cincinnati and Memorial Hall. This was followed by Brothers Woody Cook and Todd Mayer displaying their military memorabilia, and engaging the public about veterans.

Memorial Hall  is located at Elm & Grant Streets, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The building is next to Cincinnati’s Music Hall and across from Washington Park in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. It was built by the Grand Army of the Republic and Hamilton County in 1908, as a memorial to the military of the city and county. The building was built in the Beaux-Arts style.

Constructed according to a design by Samuel Hannaford and Sons, the Memorial Building was intended to commemorate members of all branches of the U.S. armed services. The hall contains a 556-seat theater that was designed for speaking, but is also used as a venue for concerts, film screenings and theatrical events.

In late 1978, the Memorial Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, qualifying for inclusion both because of its architecture and because of its place in the area’s history. Its location on Washington Park places it in the historic district that embraces most of Over-the-Rhine, which was added to the Register five years after the Memorial Building was individually added.

After its construction in 1908, the Hall was used for Grand Army of the Republic Post meetings, including the WH Lytle Post 47. Additionally veterans reunions were held here, including the  9th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and 4th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry to name a few.

Camp members were thrilled with the event on Saturday, and humbled to be part of an historical event.

 

General William H. Lytle Memorial Service

The General William Haines Lytle, Camp No. 10, Department of Ohio, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War held a memorial program on September 24, 2017 at his graveside in Spring Grove Cemetery. This memorial program has been held annually since the year 2000 on the Sunday closest to the date of General Lytle’s death at the Battle of Chickamauga, except for the year 2013 when the Lytle monument on the Chickamauga battlefield was rededicated by the General Lyle Camp, on September 20, 2013 at 1:30 PM, exactly 150 years to the day and the hour of General Lytle’s death.

General William Haines Lytle was a prodigy, a poet, a politician and a patriot. He is remembered by most of us as a military man – which is just as it should be. But we should remember, too, that he was also a man keenly interested in the law, in politics, and, perhaps surprisingly, in poetry. He was sometimes referred to as “the soldier-poet,” and is best known for his poem “Anthony and Cleopatra.”

Larry Collins
Camp Commander

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Pictured are (left to right): Brothers David Stockdale, Kerry Langdon, Michael Mershon, Rob Kidd, Jim Crane, Larry Collins Peter Sturdevant, Sister Wanda Langdon, Brothers Jim Houston, Richard Davis, Harry Schmidt and (kneeling) Brother Philip Kidd.

Patriot Fair in Mason, Ohio

On Saturday September 23rd 2017, the The General William Haines Lytle, Camp No. 10, Department of Ohio, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War participated in Patriot Day in Mason, OH. We had a number of people stop by our table. Our table was staffed by Brothers Larry Collins, Woody Cook, Jim Crane, Richard Davis, Jim Houston, Ralph Kidd, Rob Kidd,  Kerry Langdon, Michael Mershon. The group presented many authentic artifacts from the Civil War.

Pictured above left to right: Rob Kidd, Kerry Langdon, Ralph Kidd, Richard Davis, and Woody Cook.