Senate Passes Doherty Resolution Naming May “Civil War Veterans Recognition Month”

Senator Mike Doherty’s (R-23) resolution designating the month of May as “Civil War Veterans Recognition Month” has passed the New Jersey Senate.

“The Civil War was the bloodiest and deadliest war in our nation’s history,” Senator Doherty said. “More than 620,000 soldiers lost their lives right here on American soil. Our young nation emerged bruised but not broken; fragile yet indivisible. To honor the Grand Army of the Republic and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, it is fitting that we designate the month of May as ‘Civil War Veterans Recognition Month.’”

Senator Doherty’s bipartisan resolution, SJR-59, would designate May of each year as “Civil War Veterans Recognition Month” in honor of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization, established in 1866, and composed of veterans of the Union Army, the United States Navy, the United States Marines, and the United States Revenue Cutter Service. It was dissolved when the last member of this organization died in 1956.

In 1881, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War was established, in recognition of the importance of the sacrifice and service of Union Civil War veterans; but as a separate entity from the Grand Army of the Republic, in deference to the sacredness of the veterans’ personal devotion and the toll of their war experience. The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is the legal successor to the Grand Army of the Republic and is still in existence today.

“This is historically, a very important time to recognize and establish a permanent commemoration of the Union Civil War veterans and the two organizations that have honored their memory – the Grand Army of the Republic and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, as our nation will mark the 155th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg this coming July. May we never forget our country’s history and the men who laid down their lives to save our republic.”