C.K. Pier Badger Camp 1

Milwaukee

Camp meetings C. K. Pier Badger Camp #1 and Auxiliary #4 meet on the first Wednesday of the month (except August), at 7 p.m., at the historic Soldier's Home Building 1, on the grounds of the Milwaukee VA Center at 5000 W. National Avenue. Guests are always welcome to attend our meetings. Contact Camp Secretary PCinC Steve Michaels at 425-4648 or 461-7031 for details on the next meeting.
Color Guard and Honor Guard During summer months Color Guard members conduct drill practice at Bldg. 1 in the 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Members interested in joining the Camp Honor Guard Firing Team should contact PCC Patrick Fallon at (262) 994-3285 or download the information flyer

Newsletter

The current Camp Orders may be downloaded and printed from your computer. Our printed newsletter is in black & white but the electronic version is in full color! You'll need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software to view the document. If you don't have this program, it may be downloaded at no cost and is easily installed on your computer (click on the Reader icon). Here are the past few years' editions for download:

January 2012 (1mb) December 2011 (1.5mb) November 2011 (1.6mb) October 2011 (1.9mb) September 2011 (1.7mb) August 2011 (391k) July 2011 (862k) June 2011 (730k) May 2011 (980k) April 2011 (650k) March 2011 (623k) February 2011 (804k)

January 2011 (515k) December 2010 (1.2mb) November 2010 (534k) October 2010 (597k) September 2010 (555k) August 2010 (441k) July 2010 (445k) June 2010 (731k) May 2010 (564k) April 2010 (564k) March 2010 (226k) February 2010 (320k)

January 2010 (487k) December 2009 (447k) November 2009 (335k) October 2009 (318k) September 2009 (275k) August 2009 (319k) July 2009 (993k) June 2009 (368k) May 2009 (275k) April 2009 (518k) March 2009 (219k) February 2009 (299k)

January 2009 (198k) December 2008 (625k) November 2008 (407k) October 2008 (339k) September 2008 (690k) August 2008 (623k) July 2008 (590k) June 2008 (764k) May 2008 (369k) April 2008 (423k) March 2008 (578k) February 2008 (623k)

About C.K. Pier Badger

C.K. Pier Badger Camp #1's charter was approved on December 3, 1901. The camp was the result of merging two smaller units: Badger Camp #1 and C.K. Pier Camp #35. Camp #35 had been named for Colwert K. Pier, a Civil War veteran who had enlisted as a private in the 1st Wisconsin and left the service after the war as Colonel of the 38th Wisconsin. After his discharge he became a lawyer, managed a bank and the family farm, owned a newspaper, and was active in state politics. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, E.B. Wolcott Post #1 in Milwaukee, president of the Great GAR reunion of 1880 and secretary of the National Encampment Council in 1889.

Camp #1 is a member of the Civil War Preservation Trust, an organization which promotes appreciation and stewardship of our nation's historical, cultural, and environmental heritage through preservation of significant Civil War battlefields. Camp #1 has recently conducted fundraising efforts to assist with restoration of the Brig. General Erastus Wolcott monument in Milwaukee's Lake Park.

The Camp celebrated it's 110th year in 2011.

In 2004, PDC Steve Michaels of Camp #1 was elected to the post of SUVCW National Commander-in-Chief, the first member from Wisconsin to ever have achieved this honor.

C.K. Pier Badger Camp #1 was also proud to have Brother William Upham Jr. as a member until his passing in 2009. Brother Upham was Wisconsin's only remaining "True Son" of a Union Soldier.

C.K. Pier Badger Auxiliary #4

Auxiliary meetings are held at the same time and location as Camp meetings. For more information on the Auxiliary, or for membership information, contact:

Kathy Anderson
Auxiliary 4 President

Camp and Auxiliary Calendar
Days the flag should be flown

1 Feb:	National Freedom Day
4 Feb:	Department Mid-Winter Meeting, 9 a.m. and 42nd Annual Patriotic Luncheon, 12:30 p.m., Bluemound Gardens Restaurant, Wauwatosa
7 Feb:	Camp and Auxiliary meeting, 7 p.m., Soldier's Home Bldg. 1
12 Feb:	Union Defender's Day (Abraham Lincoln's birthday)
22 Feb:	George Washington's birthday
26 Feb:	Member Orientation, 12:30 - 4:30 p.m., Milwaukee VA Soldier's Home Bldg. 1
7 March:	Camp and Auxiliary meeting, 7 p.m., Soldier's Home Bldg. 1
10 March:	American Heroes Ball, 7 p.m., Marian Center for Nonprofits

Recent activities

2011 Dept. Leadership Conference was well-attended by representatives from the Sons, Auxiliary and Daughters of Union Veterans. In this photo (from left to right) PDC Terry Dyer and Steve Aarli from Rockford's John A. Logan Camp 26, and Thomas Meyers of C.K. Pier Badger Camp 1 work together on on a group discussion project during the conference.

Members of the Camp 1 Honor Guard fire a musket salute at the dedication of a new historical marker in downtown Milwaukee. The marker commemorates the former home site of Brig. Gen. Rufus King. Pictured are Dept. Commander Tom Brown (left) and Camp 1 SVC Brian McManus.

Wreaths Across America at Wood National Cemetery in Milwaukee. Brothers of Camps 1 and 4 salute during the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony at Wood National Cemetery on December 11th.

AP Linda Brown (at right in photo) makes sure plenty of U.S. flags are available for visitors to decorate veteran's graves in Calvary Cemetery after the annual Memorial Day ceremony.

About the GAR in Milwaukee

Among the charges given to the Sons by the Grand Army veterans was to preserve and perpetuate the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic. Some of Camp #1's PCinC Steve Michael's research and writing about the GAR in Milwaukee is presented here:

• The GAR in Milwaukee
• Dedication of the E.B. Wolcott Post #1 Plaque

Comments to Dept. Signals Officer