MOUNT CARMEL - The Allied Orders of the Grand Army of the Republic held their annual encampment in Scranton June 23 to 25. Meeting at the Hilton Scranton and Conference Center were the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (131st encampment), Auxiliary to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (127th) and Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War (98th). The Pennsylvania Department has 875 sons in 27 camps throughout the Commonwealth.
David Berezovske, commander of James A. Garfield Camp No. 34, represented the Mount Carmel camp at the encampment.
During the encampment, General J.B. Gobin Camp No. 503 of Sunbury received its charter from national Commander Brad Schall, of California. Accepting the charter was Camp Commander Greg Kline. Also attending from the Gobin Camp were Anthony Kline and John Deppen.
The encampment will be held in Greensburg in 2012 and in Gettysburg in 2013, which will coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Civil War battle.
The SUVCW is opened to males 14 years and older. The Garfield Camp was organized May 9, 1883, and chartered Aug. 9, 1883. It is the oldest-veterans affiliated organization in Mount Carmel.
The next meeting of the camp will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14 at the Lithuanian Club. Anyone interested in learning more about the SUVCW or joining the camp is invited to attend.