When you join the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, you enter a network of more than 6,000 men who form lifelong bonds, honor their heroic ancestors, and promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism in their communities. There are hereditary members, who trace their lineage to those who served honorably in the Civil War, and associate members, who do not have the requisite ancestry but wish to join the fraternity. Each is described in greater detail below.

Click here (pdf) to download membership application. Further questions regarding eligibility or the application can be directed to a specific camp. You can choose any camp, whether based on your historical interests, activities of the camp, or the convenience of the meeting place and time. If there is no local camp in your area, consider the Nebraska Camp-at-Large.  To find what is near to you, Nebraska’s Camps are listed in the Camps navigation above.

Hereditary Membership (Member & Junior)

Hereditary membership is available to a male descendant, 14 years of age (6 to 14 for Juniors), who meets the following requirements:

• • • You must directly descend from a Soldier, Sailor, Marine or member of the Revenue Cutter Service (or directly descend from a brother, sister, half-brother, or half-sister of such Soldier, etc.) who was regularly mustered and served honorably in, was honorably discharged from, or died in the service of, the Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Revenue Cutter Service of the United States of America or in such state regiments called to active service and was subject to the orders of United States general officers, between April 12, 1861 and April 9, 1865.
    • You must never have been convicted of any infamous or heinous crime.
    • You, or the ancestor through whom membership is claimed, must never have voluntarily borne arms against the government of the United States.

Associate Membership

Associate membership is available to men who do not have the ancestry to qualify for hereditary membership. Associate membership is available to any man who demonstrates a genuine interest in the Civil War and can subscribe to the purpose and objects of the SUVCW.

Although an Associate is not required to meet the lineage requirement of a Member, he is still subject to the second and third provisions of hereditary eligibility. An Associate may vote and hold any office except those of Commander-in-Chief, Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief, Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, National Secretary, National Treasurer and Commanding Officer of the Sons of Veterans Reserve. Associates may not exceed one-third of the total membership of the Camp at the time of election.

The Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR) is the ceremonial uniformed military element of the SUVCW. The SVR consists of a General Staff and several military districts across the nation. The SVR is overseen by the National Military Affairs Committee of the SUVCW. SVR elements participate in ceremonies, parades, living history programs, and re-enactments. All Members and Associates are welcome to join the SVR; however, SVR membership is contingent upon maintaining SUVCW membership.

Ancestor Service and Lineage

Copies of your ancestor’s original service or pension records or Adjutant General records must accompany the application. Additional information about the applicant’s Civil War ancestor, including, but not limited to his affiliation with the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) or other post-Civil War veterans’ organizations, and his resting place may be attached as well. Computer or internet generated secondary reports are not acceptable.

Generational Documentation

All applications (for hereditary membership) must include proper lineage documentation to prove lineage for each generation of the application form.

1. 1. 1. Documents can be photocopies or official replacements of originals and do not need to be certified copies.
      2. Documents can be census records, marriage records, birth records, death records, family bibles that are more than 75 years old (digital images of family bibles are acceptable), wills and testiments and other legal documents generated by local, state, or federal authority and again do not need to be certified copies.
      3. Digital images of original records are allowed.
      4. Transcripts (handwritten or typed copies) will not be allowed.
      5. Every application MUST include an officially issued state or government Birth Certificate of the applicant.
      6. Every application MUST include a photocopy or digital image of an officially issues state or government photo identification i.e., Drivers License, State issued photo ID, Military photo ID, Passport, etc.

Questions about Membership?