Camp History

Lincoln-Cushing Camp No. 2 was charted in the city of Washington, DC on 22 February, 1961, as a result of the merger between the Abraham Lincoln Camp No. 2, founded on 9 February, 1887, and the William B. Cushing Camp No. 30, founded on 1 December, 1891.

The first commander of the camp was Maj. General Ulysses S. Grant, III, the grandson of U. S. Grant, the victorious Union Army Commander in the Civil War and 18th President of the United States. Brother Grant III also served the order as Commander-in-Chief of the national SUVCW from 1953 until 1955.

The first man to sign the new charter of Lincoln-Cushing was Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith, the son of Warren Beckwith and Jessie Harlan Lincoln, the granddaughter of President Abraham Lincoln and daughter of Robert Todd Lincoln.  Brother Beckwith passed away in 1985 and was the last remaining descendent of President Lincoln. 

The Lincoln-Cushing Camp, one the largest camps in the order, was awarded the Abraham Lincoln Commander-in-Chief Award in 2011 as recognition for being the most outstanding camp in the country.

Today, the Lincoln-Cushing Camp carries on the 106 year tradition of holding the annual Decoration Day Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on 30 May.  In 2014, the ceremony was part of the 150th anniversary celebration of Arlington National Ceremony.  

We continue to honor the memory of those who served the Union to keep the country united, educate our young about this important period in U.S. history and serve all veterans who have fought to keep this country free.