Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Department of Illinois Mid-Term Encampment,October 25th, 2025

“I’ve got my Western Sharpshooters’ hat on, my Gettysburg Address tie, my SUVCW medal, my Abraham Lincoln socks, and a full tank of gas. Department of Illinois Mid-year Encampment, here I come!” 

Shortly after my lovely and talented wife took the above picture, I was on my way to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Department of Illinois Mid-year Encampment in Bloomington. I was honored to represent U.S. Grant Camp 1863 (Schaumburg) at this meeting. I was not really sure what to expect. After all, I was sworn in as a

member only last month (September 11th, 2025). Still, I was looking forward to lunch and meeting more “brothers” of the SUVCW from all around the state. 

“I have arrived!” 

Here I am outside at the McClean County Old Courthouse. For those of us who love history and old things, it is a beautiful historic courthouse. Even better, there is a full historical museum in the basement. I wish I had spent more time there. The staff was very welcoming and helpful with directions to our SUVCW Department of Illinois meeting on the third floor.

I enjoyed an excellent lunch and conversation with Brother Steve Westlake and Larry Werline, an SUVCW brother from Chatham, Illinois. Brother Larry is also a U.S. Grant impersonator/presenter. And yes, he looks remarkably like U.S. Grant.

Following lunch, Department of Illinois Commander Michael Zafran gavelled the meeting to order. After a roll call of officers came a credentials check and voting card check. A motion to open the meeting was passed. 

Commander Zafran asked those assembled: “For what purpose do we meet?” 

“Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty!" came the response. 

After the invocation and pledge of allegiance, there followed a recognition of the hard work of three special supporters of the SUVCW including Dr. Anna Quinzio-Zafran. Next, Department Treasurer Lee Lasseigne issued his report.

Reports from elected and appointed officers included comments from Camp Organizer Nick Kaup. There was a brief discussion about the need to keep recruiting to increase our membership, with an announcement that there were nine (9) new members recently sworn into camps in the Department of Illinois. Commander Zafran called me out specifically and asked me to stand to be recognized as one of the newest members of the SUVCW Department of Illinois. 

Next, there was a discussion of the outreach activities of various camps. 

E.F. Dutton Camp 49 (Sycamore) was recognized for reaching out to schools in their area to promote patriotism and a deep understanding of the Union cause and the sacrifice of Union soldiers. Members of Camp 49 have recently given presentations in six (6) area schools. 

New business included a presentation from Signals Officer Bobby J. Welch of Camp 39 (standing in the center of the above photo). Officer Welch announced that he is close to opening an American Military Museum in Addison, Illinois. He has secured space in an old Lutheran schoolhouse. The artifacts and exhibits for the museum are mostly from his personal collection. He has already received grants from several veteran organizations, but he requested a $1,100 grant from the SUVCW Department of Illinois to purchase grid wall to assist in the development of the displays in the museum. The motion to approve the grant passed unanimously. 

In the photo above Junior Vice Commander Jeff Kaup is holding a sculpture created by Custer Camp 1 Commander Stuart Stefany. Commander Stefany created this work of art to be placed on a stone boulder at the Dr. Benjamin F. Stephenson Memorial in Petersburg, IL. Commander Stefany asked for a grant of $5,000 from the Department to find this project.

After some quick research I learned that Benjamin Stephenson (1823-1871) served in the Civil War from 1861-1864 as a member of the 14th Illinois. He was a doctor and served mostly as the regimental surgeon. But after he was mustered out, Dr. Stephenson’s service to Union veterans and the Union cause did not end. He led the charge to keep Union veterans connected in a fraternal and social organization after their service ended.  In 1866 he founded the Grand Army of the Republic, a powerful fraternal, social, and political organization of Union veterans.  Dr. Stephenson’s significance to our organization cannot be overstated as the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is the Congressionally chartered legal successor to the Grand Army of the Republic. More information on Dr. Stephenson can be found here. 

There was a motion to allocate $2,500 for this sculpture project. Several officers mentioned that the National SUVCW would more than likely offer grant money to match our grant and cover the full $5,000. There was discussion of how to best secure the plaque, whether the plaque’s material can whether the elements, etc. Commander Stefany explained that the material is largely rust proof, and the design would drain water away from the main elements of the sculpture which will be secured with bolts and be nearly impossible to steal. The motion passed. 

In the photo above Officer Nick Kaup presented the original charter of the Illinois Grand Army of the Republic to Department Commander Michael Zafran. This historic document is a remarkable gift transferred to the Department of Illinois during the national encampment at Houston, Texas in August of 2025.  

As part of new business, I rose and invited everyone to attend our "Battlefields and Bourbon" fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 21st, 2025, and distributed flyers for our fundraiser for Nov. 21st.   All are welcome to attend!

You can by tickets online by scanning the above QR code or visiting GrantCamp1863.com.

Finally, for the good of the order, there was a discussion of storing Department of Illinois SUVCW records at Bobby Welch’s museum in Addison, and a discussion of proper SUVCW attire at service functions, meetings, and encampments. Commander Michael Zafran led a brief discussion of this issue. He is fine with Civil War attire or business attire. 

The encampment proceeded to close followed by an announcement that the next meeting will be May 2nd in the Aurora, Illinois Grand Army of the Republic Hall. 

Pictured above are the attendees of the SUVCW Department of Illinois mid-year encampment.

And then there was time for one last photo op as we loaded our cars and prepared to leave Bloomington. From left to right: Owen Doak, Abraham Lincoln, Michael Zafran, Nick Kaup, and Jeff Kaup. 

Owen C. Doak

October 26th, 2025