Department of Nebraska including South and North Dakota

2025-26 Department Officers

Department Commander: Keith Rockefeller (Vifquain Camp)
Sr. Vice Commander: Terry Zastera (Welstead Camp)
Jr. Vice Commander: Val Schmiedeskamp (Harrison Camp)
Secretary/Treasurer: Gage Stermenksy (Shiloh/Vifquain Camp)

Council: Norm Weber, PDC (Harrison Camp)
Council: Paul Hadley, PDC (Welstead Camp)
Council: Brandon Barth, PCC (Welstead Camp)

Patriotic Instructor: Eric Bachenberg (Shiloh Camp)
Chaplain: Michael Ponte, PDC (Shiloh Camp)
Guide: Clifford Hadley (Welstead Camp)
Guard: Paul Lahowetz (Vifquain Camp)
Color Bearer: Elliott Fullner (Harrison Camp)
Department Historian: Micheal Ponte (Shiloh Camp)
Graves Registration Officer: John Surman, PDC (Shiloh Camp)
Civil War Memorials Officer – Keith Rockefeller (Vifquain Camp)
Signals Officer: Mark Nichols, PDC (Shiloh Camp)
ROTC Officer: Paul Lahowetz (Vifquain Camp)
Department Musician: Joe Mettenbrink (Vifquain Camp)
GAR Highway Officer: Howard Davis (Thayer Camp)
Eagle Scout Coordinator: Mark Nichols, PDC (Shiloh Camp)
Camp Creation Officer: Norm Weber, PDC (Harrison Camp)
Recruiting Officer: Val Schmiedeskamp (Shiloh Camp)
Counselor: John Surman, PDC (Welstead Camp)

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Department History/Chronology

Department of Nebraska established in 1881

The Grand Army of the Republic officially recognized the Sons of Union Veterans in 1888.

Nebraska Department grew to 112 Active Camps in 1891. Decline in membership resulted in hard economic times, membership age being raised to 18, and the Spanish American War.

National Encampment of the Sons of Union Veterans was held in Omaha in 1898

Department was reorganized in 1930 with 30 Camps.

Department of Nebraska SUVCW disbanded in 1950

Victor Vifquain, Camp-at-Large was established in 1996 by George Schulz.

Department of Nebraska, reestablished on June 25, 2000.

Charter was presented by Commander-in-Chief, Danney Wheeler from New York in Nebraska City at the GAR Hall.

There were 3 Camps in Nebraska in 2010.

Camp No. 1, Victor Vifquain Camp, Omaha, named after Victor Vifquain, buried in Calvary Cemetery, Lincoln, Medal of Honor

Camp No. 2 Shiloh Camp, Lincoln, named after battle of Shiloh

Camp No. 53-2, Harrison Camp, Wisner, named after General, President Harrison

Additional Camps added:

Camp No. 0, John M. Thayer Camp, At-Large, named for General/Governor, John Thayer

Camp No. 3, Welstead Camp, Fremont, named after James C. Welstead

Department of Nebraska was renamed to include North and South Dakota