THE SOLEMN PLEDGE - Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

“...from these honored dead we take increased devotion...”
Remembering His Sacrifice
On July 24th, four California Camps and two Auxiliaries corrected an historical error. Last November, DGRO Joe Marti was
investigating a cannon theft at Vallejo’s Sunrise Mem. Cemetery when a worker told him of a Confederate’s grave at the cemetery.
However, after some research, it was clear that Pvt. Samuel Brown served in Co. K, 137th USCT. Br. Marti, past-DGRO Donald
Hotchkiss of Wm. B. Keith Camp 12 and Dept. Mem. Comm. Chair Kirby Morgan of Geo. Wright Camp 22 found that Brown was a
former slave, freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. He joined the Union Army in Macon, GA, one day before Lee’s surrender. A
new VA headstone was obtained and the cemetery waived their fee because of the unique story.
Phil Sheridan Camp 4 helped conduct the gravesite ceremony. JVCinC Brad Schall MC’d the ceremony, while DGRO Marti
presided. Geo. Wright Camp 22, Elmer Ellsworth Camp 23, and Alfred Pleasonton Camp 24 attended. DP Rachelle Campbell led
the sisters of Mary Walker Aux. 52 and Ivy Stiers Aux. 23. The American Civil War Assoc. provided a firing detail and bugler.
Br. Marti located and contacted Mary Johnson, Brown’s granddaughter. She and over 120 descendants attended. During his
remarks, Vallejo Mayor Osby Davis declared July 24th, 2010 “Samuel Brown Sr. Day.” Several Bay Area news outlets attended and
Brown’s story made it into newspapers all over the country and the world. Photo of Br. Joe Marti presenting Flag to Mary Anderson
by Yvonne Reynolds.
The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
www.suvcw.org