Brothers - with pride and humility, I accepted the role of Commander of
the Department of Maryland, SUVCW at the recent encampment. Pride
because you have chosen me to lead you over the coming year and humility
because I am being asked to fill the shoes of the strong and honorable
men who have led this great department.
 
Like any strong, viable organization, we need to look both where we are
going and where we have been. The latter is easy - we look at the effort
and sacrifice made by the men of 1861 to 1865 whom we honor. Everything
we do in our camps and in the department should be driven by their
memory. Because of them, the Union was preserved and we remain a great
nation today.
 
But looking forward is a bit more difficult. We are never sure what lays
at the next crossroads, but we must be prepared to maintain our
awareness.
 
In the coming year, I anticipate new initiatives on the Department and
National levels to seek increasing recruitment. We should be ready to answer this
call. We must find innovative ways to gain members to preserve the legacy in

remembrance of our ancestors and for our descendents.  Furthermore, I hope to

visit as many camps as I can in the coming year, so please inform me of meetings

and special events.
 
Finally, let me remind you of my theme for the year - Make a difference.
Do something that honors our brothers - teach a class, give a tour,
clean a headstone, mark a gravesite, and most importantly is to recruit.

Remember, we are all teachers - teaching the coming generations about the great

men of the Grand Army of the Republic. If we stop teaching, that memory will be lost,

which must never happen.
 
Yours in fraternity, charity and loyalty,
 
Neil Hanlon
Department Commander