Department of New York
Headquarters of The Department Commander

1. The recent events in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania are of a magnitude far greater than
   my power to offer significant comment or guidance. We each must do what we can, for ourselves, our families,
   and now more than ever, our Nation. And each of us must decide for ourselves how best to do this.
   Commander-in-Chief George L. Powell has made three fine suggestions in his General Orders No. 4:

                                On behalf of the National Organization of the SUVCW, I want to offer the condolences of our membership
                                to the victims and to the families of the victims involved and to express the outrage of all the members of our
                                Order to the attack today on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C.
                                At this time, we must come together as an Order and a Nation. I thereby urge all Brothers to:

                                            3. Those Brothers who are able to, please donate blood.

                                I hereby order that all Camp and Department Charters be draped and all members are to drape their membership
                       badge for the next 30 days in memory of the victims and their families.

        Oliver Tilden SVC John Portanova has suggested that Camps might each donate $100, or some other
        amount as they are able, to assist with the rescue/salvage efforts currently taking place in New York City.
        As Brother Portanova lives in the New York City area, he can certainly assist Camps wishing to make such
        contributions in directing those funds to appropriate entities. He may be contacted by phone: (212) 463-3118
        or e-mail: jp83nysvr@hotmail.com    Perhaps most importantly, as Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War,
        it is our duty to continue to demonstrate and spread the same Patriotism that we have always known. As a new
        spirit of Americanism begins to sweep the Nation, a wonderful thing but at such a high price, let us lead the way
        in showing the rest of America how it should be done.

2. As a reminder, deaths within our Department are to be reported to: The Department Secretary,
   The Department Chaplain, our Commander-in-Chief, and the editors of both The Volunteer
   and The Banner. This is not being done by all Camps and would be greatly appreciated.
   
   
3. Our Department Treasurer, Richard Wilson, has opened a new bank account for our Department that has
   stricter regulations regarding how checks are to be made out.
   Any checks forwarded to our Department Treasurer must take one of the following forms:
   
                   New York Department, SUVCW
                   New York Department, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
                   New York Dept., SUVCW
   
   
4. Our Department Secretary, Doug Harding, appreciates the improved response regarding Quarterly Reports.
   However, the Department would ask Camp Officers, to be more careful in following the directions included
   with each blank report. Camp checks are being sent to the Department Secretary rather than the Treasurer,
   often only one copy of the report is filed, Camp rosters are not included with reports when changes are made,
   and some reports are not completed on both sides.
   
   
5. In previous Department Orders, I requested that Camps that maintain webpages please check to make certain
   that they are kept up-to-date. As there is still a website promoting 1999 activities and providing 1998 Officers
   as contacts, I would repeat this request.
   
   
6. Our 119^th Department Encampment will take place June 8-9, 2002 at the Waterloo, NY Holiday Inn.
   A festive event is also being planned for Friday evening, June 7^th, for those who will be arriving early.
   Details will be printed in The Volunteer and on our website.
   
   
7. Artist Paul R. Martin, III, who was a guest at our 2001 Department Encampment and provided prizes for our
   Department fund-raisers, has created a very special "commissioned" work for our Department: By Their
   Surviving Comrades. Unveiled for the first time at our Encampment, the piece features the Battle Monument
   at West Point, and a special inscription noting our 118^th New York Department Encampment with an image of
   the G.A.R. badge. It is a beautiful piece and a wonderful memento of our New York Department. Mr. Martin is
   contributing a portion of each sale to our Department to support the work of our Order.
   
   

8. As Department Commander, I take this opportunity to formally, and with great pride, announce the birth of my son, Jonathan Scott Bennett, September 5, 2001.