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Gettysburg Remembrance Day

 Camp News: 

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:		Bob Bardsley   ( rottsar@comcast.net )
Senior Vice Commander:		Jim Caron
Junior Vice Commander:		Jim Kilcullen
Secretary/Treasurer:		Jim Lawler   ( dtownjim@comcast.net )
Council:		Jim Caron, Don Stow, Andy Lefko
Chaplain:		Don Stow
Patriotic Instructor:		Richard Brooks
Graves Registration:		Bob McGonigle
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/

2025 Camp Events