The Grand Army of the Republic, often referred to as the G.A.R., was founded at Decatur, Illinois on April 6, 1866. Dr. Benjamin Franklin Stephenson founded the organization on the three cardinal principles of Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty and these principles guided the G.A.R. throughout its existence. The site is organized in the following fashion:
Leadership - Department Officers, history, contact information
Camps - State size view of camp locations and links to camp websites
Events - Department event calendar and important dates
About - History of the department and order
Resources - Useful items for the SUVCW members and camps
Thank you, for visiting our website. Enjoy

!Department Commander Jody Switzer
Visit our leadership page for a personal greeting from the Commander.

Click here for more information

Annual MidTerm Encampment
Department of Illinois
SUVCW
Rosehill Cemetery Chicago, Illinois.

We had a great encampment on Saturday and many thanks goes out to Camp#1 for hosting this event. Thank you to the CinC Perley Mellor for attending our encampment.
We also have some leadership changes of note:
Department Commander - PCC Jody Switzer
Senior Vice Commander - Marc Finnegan
Junior Vice Commander - John Bigwood

Annual Fall Encampment
Department of Illinois
SUVCW
O'Fallen, Illinois.

We had a great encampment on Saturday and many thanks goes out to the Hecker Camp for hosting this event. It was well attended and we accomplished many things. Most importantly we made a committment to Bro. Bob Petrovich of the National Council that we have Ready, Willing, and Able committee in place and moving forward for hosting the 2016 National Encampment.....
We also have some leadership changes of note:
Department Commander - PCC Jody Switzer
Senior Vice Commander - Marc Finnegan
Junior Vice Commander - Greg Carter

Annual Fall Encampment
Department of Illinois
SUVCW
Tuscola, Illinois.

Left to right: Row 1 – 1 DSVC Everett Nylund (1), 2 CC Robert N Chestnut (4), 3 DC Terry Dyer(26), 4 Department Secretary Steve Aarli (26), 5 Department Treasurer Bill Johnson(26), 6 PDC Nick Kaup (1), 7, PDC Steve Westlake (2), 8 PDC Ron Clark (4). Row 2 – 1 Dana Hales (24), 2 Ken Thopson (443), 3 Steve Wheat (443), 4 Russell Schliecher (443) 5 Secretary Bob Kurek, 6 Bob Mohrman (443), 7 Lionel L Kinney (67), 8 Paul Buechler (443), 9 Tom Oestreicher (26) 10 David Eisele (26), 11 Randall Abbott Camp (4), 12 National Chaplain Jerry Kowalski (1, 2).
Row 3 – 1 Dana R Hales (24), 2 Gary Ladd (443), 3 Paul Zeien (26), 4 CC Jody Switzer (2), 5 Bill Jacobus (443), 6 William Kreml (1), 7 Steve Haight (26), 8 CC Kirk Dermint (443), 9 CC Michael Gregory(1), 10 Chuck Wright (2).
(camp #)