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DUVCW honors Cora Gillis Marion residents Nancy Nevelizer and Amanda VerStreate, whose genealogical lineage traces back to soldiers who fought with the Union Army during the Civil War, joined other members of Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War on September 13 at Macedon Village Cemetery. They were there to honor Cora Gillis, last National Executive Secretary of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Shown are members of DUVCW: Christina Braelle, Secretary of Palmyra; Nicolle Beyer, President; Shirley Boris, Past National President; Nancy Nevelizer, Secretary and wearing uniform of 28th NY Vol. Infantry Co. E soldier is DUVCW Guide, Amanda VerStreate. Gillis, who lived from 1884 to 1972 and is buried on her family's plot in Macedon, served in the GAR as National Secretary from 1946 until the closing of the organization in 1956 as well as 1946 National President of the DUVCW. The GAR was a Civil War Union veterans organization with peak membership of over 400,000 veteran members, which represented about 40 percent of the Union servicemen who survived the war. They held encampments every year from 1866 to 1949, with thousands attending the first and six of the remaining 16 attending the last. Gillis, a Lakewood resident, made the final entry in the organization register when she recorded the death of the last Union survivor, 109-year-old Albert Woolson of Duluth, MN on August 2, 1956. She then sent all records that remained to the Congressional Library and flags, badges and the official seal to the Smithsonian Institute for preservation. Members of the 28th NY Vol. Infantry Co. E presented and retrieved the Colors and provided a rifle salute during the ceremony. The opening statement was given by Past National President Shirley Boris of Sodus Center followed by a reverent rendition of The Battle Hymn of the Republic by Nicolle Beyer of Buffalo, President Tent 56 DUVCW. In delivering the remembrance of Gillis, Amanda Ver Streate said, 'She (Gillis) was also a past National President of the DUVCW and said the main purpose of the organization is to perpetuate the memory of Union Veterans. ' Gillis had said, 'Memorial Day is a sacred day and not a holiday for picnics, ball games and races.' The day was established in 1868 on orders of General John A. Logan, Commander in Chief of the Grand Army and we intend to perpetuate its original meaning. DUVCW is an organization of direct descendants of soldiers of the Union Army who served during the Civil War. More information is available at www.DUVCW.org
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