Bradbury Camp
 
 
Gettysburg Remembrance Day

 Camp News: 

Our meetings are now held on the 4th Saturday of the month at the American Legion Post 134 at 305 E. Gay St. in West Chester.
2021 Fairview Cemetery Flag Program Pictures are posted here.
2018 Installation of Officers Pictures are posted here.
2017 New Castle Separation Day Parade Picture is posted here.
An article about the 2017 Fairview Cemetery Flag Program is posted here.
2017 Annual Sgt. Jones Bradbury Ceremony Pictures are posted here.
2017 Lincoln Day Ceremony & Parade Pictures are posted here.
2016 Fairview Cemetery Flag Program Pictures are posted here.
2015 Bradbury Camp Ceremony at Sailor's Creek, VA are posted here.
A page listing our past camp officers has been added here.
An article about the founding of GAR Bradbury Post #149 has been added here.

SUVCW

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) is a patriotic and educational organization dedicated to honoring the soldiers who fought to preserve the Union. We also proudly honor all veterans who have faithfully served our great country throughout history to the present day.

Membership

Despite the organization's name, most of us are actually great, ... , great grandsons of Civil War soldiers. However, men who do not have the ancestry to qualify for hereditary membership may become associate members. For more information, contact one of the Bradbury Camp Officers listed below. A membership application form is available here. Additional information may be found on the National Organization, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War web site.

Bradbury Camp

Bradbury Camp #149 primarily serves both Chester and Delaware Counties in Pennsylvania. However, there are no geographical restrictions and membership is open to individuals residing in other counties and states. We meet on the third Thursday of each month, September through June, at 7:00 PM at the American Legion Post 134, 305 E. Gay St., West Chester, PA. A typical meeting consists of a business session during which we discuss and prepare for upcoming events and ceremonies. For a list of scheduled events, scroll down to the bottom of this page. Following the business session, we often have a speaker give a presentation on a topic related to the Civil War.

Our Camp is named for Sergeant Jones Bradbury. Sgt. Bradbury was a resident of Delaware County when he enlisted in the 26th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (PVI). He was wounded in 1863, but recovered and returned to active duty. His enlistment was completed in May 1864, but he re-enlisted for the duration of the war in the 99th PVI. He was subsequently captured and imprisoned at Andersonville, but was later paroled and again returned to his unit. He was mortally wounded on April 6, 1865, just 3 days before the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia surrendered at Appomattox. To read a more complete overview of his story, see the Life of Jones Bradbury page.

Some of the Camp's members wear re-enactor's uniforms, but many do not. Optionally, members may join a ceremonial, uniformed, military component of the SUVCW, known as the Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR). More details on the SVR are given below.

Camp Officers

Commander: Joseph Boyce   ( jboyce325@comcast.net )
Senior Vice Commander: Bob Bardsley   ( rottsar@comcast.net )
Junior Vice Commander: Dan Cashin   ( dcsckp@aol.com )
Secretary/Treasurer: Jim Lawler   ( dtownjim@comcast.net )
Council: Jim Caron, Don Stow, Andy Lefko
Chaplain: Bob McGonigle
Patriotic Instructor: Richard Brooks
Graves Registration: Bob McGonigle   ( bobmcgonigle167@gmail.com )
Historian: Clyde Tinklepaugh, PCC
Civil War Memorials: Andy Lefko, PCC   ( lefko94@verizon.net )

For a list of past camp officers, click here.

SVR

The Sons of Veterans Reserve component of Bradbury Camp #149 is known as Co. B, 26th PVI and is led by Captain Andy Lefko. The unit was created to provide a color guard for all ceremonies, parades and living history programs that the Bradbury Camp organizes or participates in. The unit is not a re-enactment organization, although some our members participate in such events.

If you are interested in becoming a member or wish to request that our unit particpates in an upcoming event, please contact Andy Lefko at lefko94@verizon.net

Auxiliary

An Auxiliary unit strives to assist the Sons of Union Veterans in keeping alive the memories of our ancestors and their sacrifices for the maintenance of the Union. For more information visit the National Auxiliary's web page at https://asuvcw.org/

2024 Events

- Sat Jan 27, Camp Meeting, American Legion, 305 E Gay St, 10:30 AM
    
- Mon Feb 12, Union League Lincoln Day Celebration, 10:00 AM
- Sat Feb 24, Camp Meeting, American Legion, 305 E Gay St, 10:30 AM
    
- Sat Mar 23, Camp Meeting, American Legion, 305 E Gay St, 10:30 AM
    
- Sun Apr 07, Reset Headstones at Fairview Cemetery, 1:00 PM
- Sun Apr 21, Book Presentation, Charley by Brendan Lyons, Chester County Library, 2:00 PM
- Sat Apr 27, Camp Meeting, American Legion, 305 E Gay St, 10:30 AM
    
- Thu May 16, Fairview Cemetery Flag Program, 6:00 PM
- Sat May 25, Camp Meeting, American Legion, 305 E Gay St, 10:30 AM
- Sun May 26, Marshallton Memorial Day Parade, 1:30 PM
- Mon May 27, Kennett Square Memorial Day Parade, 10:00 PM
    
- Sun Jun 02, Malvern Memorial Parade, 1:30 PM
- Sat Jun 22, Camp Meeting, American Legion, 305 E Gay St, 10:30 AM
    
- Thu Jul 04, Norwood PA Independence Day Parade, 8:30 AM
- Sat Jul 13 ?, Annual Black Powder Shoot, Honey Brook, 10:00 AM
    
- Sat Sep 28 ?, Paoli Battlefield Heritage Day
- Sat Sep 28, Camp Meeting, American Legion, 305 E Gay St, 10:30 AM
    
- Sun Oct 06, Westtown Day Civil War Encampment, 11 AM - 3
- Sat Oct 26, Camp Meeting, American Legion, 305 E Gay St, 10:30 AM
    
- Sat Nov 16, Gettysburg Remembrance Day
- Sat Nov 23, Camp Meeting, American Legion, 305 E Gay St, 10:30 AM
    
- Sat Dec 14 ?, Wreaths Across America, Paoli Battlefield, 11:00 AM
- Dec ??, Camp Meeting, American Legion, 305 E Gay St, 10:30 AM
    
- Sat Jan 25, Camp Meeting, American Legion, 305 E Gay St, 10:30 AM