Criteria and Application for Membership
in the Lt. Comdr. Edward Lea, USN Camp 2
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

Eligibility: As prescribed by our national headquarters, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War offers three categories of membership, namely: Hereditary, Junior Hereditary and Associate member. Please review the below criteria for each category:

Hereditary Member: Applicants under this category must be male, 14 years of age or older, and be a blood descendant, either lineal or collateral, of a Union military veteran that served honorably in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Revenue Cutter Service, or served in any of the state regiments called to active duty which were subject to orders of the United States government, between April 12, 1861 and April 9, 1865.

Junior Hereditary Member: Same as above only fall between the ages of 8 and 13 years of age, and have the signature of their parent or legal guardian as a witness on the membership application. Note: Junior Hereditary Members generally may not vote or hold office in the camp. Upon turning age 14, they will be reclassified as regular Hereditary Members and entitled to such privileges.

Associate Member: Any male, 14 years of age or older, who lacks Union ancestry (or cannot document such lineage at time of application) and who subscribes to the goals of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Associate Members are entitled to the same member privileges as Hereditary Members except they may not hold an elected office at the national level. Furthermore, the number of Associate Members in the camp is limited to one-third of the total camp membership at the time of application.

All Applicants for membership must be men who (1) support the goals and objectives of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War; (2) have never been convicted of any infamous or heinous crime; (3) have never voluntarily borne arms against the government of the United States. Members must maintain these criteria during their membership in the SUVCW to remain in good standing.

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

Applicants for membership in the Edward Lea Camp may download the camp's application as instructed below. In order to complete the application, the following information will be required:

Ancestor's Service Record: This documentation is required for all Hereditary and Junior Hereditary Member applicants. A photocopy of the record which the applicant is using as proof of military service must accompany the application. Any and all copies of proof of service documentation should be reduced to standard 8½ by 11 paper size for filing purposes. Please do not submit oversized paper copies. The application contains a section wherein the information from the ancestor's proof of service must listed exactly as shown on the original document.

Applicant's Lineage: The application will contain a statement of lineage from the applicant back to his Union ancestor. This statement is in the form of an outline listing the applicant's ancestors back to the forefather through whom the applicant claims his eligibility for SUVCW membership. Documentation of such lineage (birth, death, marriage records, etc.) may also accompany the application but is not initially required. The applicant should, however, be prepared to present such documentation for verification purposes if and when requested. As with proof of service documentation, any copies submitted should be reduced to standard 8½ by 11 paper size for filing purposes. Please do not submit oversized paper copies.

Additional Information: If desired, applicants may submit supplemental documents regarding their ancestor's military service and/or the ancestor's membership in any post-Civil War veterans group such as the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) or the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S. (MOLLUS). Applicants may also include relevant biographical data on their ancestors such as occupation, birth and death dates, place of birth, death and burial, etc. As with all other submitted documents, any copies should be reduced to standard 8½ by 11 paper size for filing purposes.

Dues and fees: A check for $35.00 (includes application fee of $5.00 plus first year's dues of $30.00), must accompany the application. Checks are payable to the Edward Lea Camp, SUVCW. Fiscal year is the calendar year and annual dues are collected each December for all members.

Application Processing: Applicants may bring their completed applications, including proof of service documentation, along with payment for dues and fees, to a stated meeting of the Edward Lea Camp for approval. They may also submit their applications through the mail by sending the form, copies of any relevant documentation, and a check for $35.00 to:

Lieutenant Commander Edward Lea Camp No. 2
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Post Office Box 331
Houston, Texas 77001-0331

QUESTIONS: If an applicant has questions regarding this process, or requires assistance with his application, he may write the camp at the above address, or  contact the Edward Lea Camp Secretary by Electronic Mail at:

ssdsmcs@swbell .net

Download the Lea Camp's Membership Application
in Microsoft Word Format (DOC).
in Adobe Acrobat Format (PDF)