2005 Proceedings - Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

Commander-in-Chief Stephen Michaels
Brothers, there has been a motion and a second made and we’ll hear two more points of
discussion starting with Brother Medert.
Brigadier General David V. Medert, Commanding General SVR
Commander-in-Chief, to you and the Brothers assembled. Along with the amendment that he is
proposing, if we are going to go ahead and permit this to happen and I support well a lot of people are
saying, I understand what they are saying. I would like to suggest, since we are voting on whether to
permit them to wear civilian clothes or not, that if we do, that the members of the Allied Orders and the
Sons that are going to be in civilian attire, if you are a Son, you are in a blue sport coat, white shirt and
tie and they march ahead of the uniform branches. They are going to lead the parade. The Sons of
Union Veterans and all those will lead the parade and then following that point on is going to be your
uniformed people. Because I’ve got to stand up and address the entire assembly of people up there on
the Parade Commander’s Meeting and say this is what’s going to be permitted. And I already know
there is going to be some of what I like to use, Urinary Olympics that’s going to arise. So I think if you
are going to go ahead and allow people in civilian clothes to dress, which I do understand why we want
to do that. They lead the parade and then you got the SVR Color Guard and the SVR General Staff and
then the uniformed people after that following in as Brother Kuhn goes ahead and puts them in. That
would be my suggestion.
Commander-in-Chief Stephen Michaels
Thank you Brother. One more point of discussion.
Stuart Stefany, Department of Illinois
I really don’t see what the issue was with having the National Guard shut out. I think everybody
that served in the Civil War served from different states and militias. Illinois, Wisconsin, they’re all
National Guard people. I don’t see why modern National Guard be closed out. Why don’t we have a
parade where everyone is in period uniform and people in modern uniform, who are serving our country,
in the back?
Commander-in-Chief Stephen Michaels
Thank you Brother Stewart. Do you have a point of information Brother McNulty?
John McNulty, Department of Pennsylvania
I have a point to make.
Commander-in-Chief Stephen Michaels
Alright.
John McNulty, Department of Pennsylvania
I propose a friendly amendment to the point of allowing the five Allied Orders to parade in
civilian attire. I would add to that that they must wear their Membership Badge.
Commander-in-Chief Stephen Michaels
And Brother that introduced the motion do you accept that? Thank you. There is a motion and a
second.
Dale Theetge, Department of New York
Can I possibly talk one more time? Seriously, it is a valid point that this should also include the
Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of the Confederacy. You cannot avoid that they march in
uniform if somebody from those organizations comes and wants to march in a proper business attire they
should be allowed.
Commander-in-Chief Stephen Michaels
That would have to be addressed separately as the motion only refers to these Allied Orders that
are listed in front of you, at this time.
Dale Theetge, Department of New York
I’ll make it a friendly amendment.
Charlie Kuhn, Department of Pennsylvania
I’ll second that friendly amendment. Commander-in-Chief, Would you like me to read this?
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