The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was organized in 1866, with membership in the GAR limited to those men who were veterans of the Union Army during the Civil War. It was organized in departments at the state level with Posts established in various communities. Col. D. M. Jones Post No. 172 was established in Tyrone on May 8, 1880. In addition to the GAR, local organizations were formed by members of specific units. One of them, the 110th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers Infantry Association, existed in Tyrone in 1894.
Knowing that the GAR would exist only as long as there were soldiers living who served in the Union Army during the Civil War, the GAR formed the Sons of Veterans of the United States of America in 1881. The Sons of Veterans of the United States was formed to continue the memory and work of the GAR. A camp of this organization, Col. James Crowther Camp #89, Sons of Veterans, was established in Tyrone in February, 1895. The camp surrendered its charter in December, 1920, for unknown reasons. Although many considered this camp to be just a part of Tyrone history, it would not be forgotten. The camp would be re-chartered and, after the passing of almost 89 years, once again have a presence in the Tyrone community.
In 1925 the name was changed to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is recognized as the successor organization of the Grand Army of the Republic. A Federal charter recognizing the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War as the successor to the Grand Army of the Republic was granted in 1954. The GAR ceased to exist upon the death of their last member, Albert Woolson, in 1956.
The Allied Orders
Today five organizations still exist whose purpose and work is closely associated with the Grand Army of the Republic. Collectively known as the Allied Orders of the Grand Army of the Republic, they are:
- Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
- Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War — Auxiliary members, on national, state, and local levels participate in ceremonies and programs to commemorate events and honor leaders and personalities of the Civil War period and events important to the history of the Grand Army of the Republic.
- Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War — A national organization made up of local groups called Tents, named to honor Army nurses and other women whose patriotic deeds during the Civil War were recorded. Membership is open to direct line female descendants of veterans of the Union Army and Navy who fought for the preservation of the Union during the American Civil War.
- Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic — The oldest Women’s hereditary organization in the United States. The goal of The Ladies of the GAR is to teach patriotism and preserve the history of our ancestry.
- Women’s Relief Corps — A patriotic organization whose express purpose is to perpetuate the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic, to assist Veterans of all wars of the United States of America, and to maintain true allegiance to the United States of America.
A group of men met in February, 2009 for the purpose of bringing the Col. James Crowther Camp #89 back to life. A new charter was issued in May, 2009 to this group. The camp currently has 22 male members, a ladies auxiliary, and a Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR) unit which is the uniformed, military, ceremonial branch of the camp.
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