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Patriots Honored with the Sherman Flag!
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WHAT IS THE SHERMAN FLAG PATRIOT HONOR?
US Grant Camp #68 maintains the flagpole that flies over General of the Army William T. Sherman's Grave. As we retire such flags, we preserve them, encase them, and only award them to worthy Americans.
US Grant Camp #68 maintains the flagpole that flies over General of the Army William T. Sherman's Grave. As we retire such flags, we preserve them, encase them, and only award them to worthy Americans.
1st Recipient
Major General Byron Bagby
- our first Presentation of a Flag Flown over Grave of General William T. Sherman
Major-General Bagby was presented this award during the U.S. Grant Symposium, held at St. Louis's Veterans Memorial, on 7-23-2021 after giving the keynote speech. PDC Walt Busch was the main presenter and Camp Member (and Grant Symposium Organizer) Greg Wolk is in the background of this picture as the General is presented his award. He is the first person to receive such an award.
- our first Presentation of a Flag Flown over Grave of General William T. Sherman
Major-General Bagby was presented this award during the U.S. Grant Symposium, held at St. Louis's Veterans Memorial, on 7-23-2021 after giving the keynote speech. PDC Walt Busch was the main presenter and Camp Member (and Grant Symposium Organizer) Greg Wolk is in the background of this picture as the General is presented his award. He is the first person to receive such an award.
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2nd Recipient
General David Petraeus
receives our second Sherman Flag
On April 27, 2022 at the event in New York honoring the 200th Anniversary of General U.S. Grant's birth, Camp PCC Robert Amsler, Jr., presents our award to the general.
receives our second Sherman Flag
On April 27, 2022 at the event in New York honoring the 200th Anniversary of General U.S. Grant's birth, Camp PCC Robert Amsler, Jr., presents our award to the general.
April 2023 - Two Recipients
Pictured from Left: 2022 Recipient General David Petraeus; Dept Commander & US Grant Camp Past Commander Robert Amsler Jr; and honorees: Edward S Hickman & Frank Scaturo
Info on Edward S. Hickman coming soon.
Francis Joseph "Frank" Scaturro (born July 26, 1972) is an American lawyer, historian, public advocate, and politician. As of July 2023, Scaturro is president of the Grant Monument Association.
Saving Grant's Tomb
Civil War general and 18th U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant died in 1885 and was interred in New York City's Riverside Park. Grant's Tomb is the largest mausoleum in the Western Hemisphere and was once among the nation's most widely visited tourist attractions. By the 1990s, however, the site had fallen into a severe state of disrepair. The tomb was scarred by graffiti. The roof leaked, the granite was cracked, and the area was used by the homeless as a latrine and drug haven. Scaturro regarded the desecration of Grant's Tomb as a national disgrace.
The tomb was administered by the National Park Service, part of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Scaturro volunteered with the Park Service to conduct guided tours at the site while he was an undergraduate. He alerted Park Service officials that the tomb urgently needed repair, but to no avail. He persisted complaining regularly to Park Service bureaucrats, including a 26-page report submitted in the summer of 1992. For over two years, Park Service officials simply ignored him. Undeterred, he went public with a 325-page whistleblowing report he sent to Congress and the President. His efforts drew national media attention, including a 1994 New York Times editorial entitled "Dishonor for a Hero President" which said, "the tomb's lamentable condition demands more funds from Washington."[10] Scaturro also sued the Interior Department and National Park Service in federal court to force it to fulfill its legal duties to the public. His efforts paid off. Congress tripled the site's operations budget, including funds for security during off hours when the site was closed, and appropriated $1.8 million for a full restoration. Scaturro explained to reporters, "I only did what I did because I had no other resort ... the only thing left was abandoning the site, and that was not an alternative to me." Restoration was completed by April 27, 1997, the 100th anniversary of the site's dedication and Grant's 175th birthday. It was re-dedicated that day. Grant's descendants, appalled by the prior condition of the tomb, hailed Scaturro as a hero.
Scaturro published several books and articles about history and law, including President Grant Reconsidered (1998) which triggered a broad scholarly reassessment of the Grant presidency
Francis Joseph "Frank" Scaturro (born July 26, 1972) is an American lawyer, historian, public advocate, and politician. As of July 2023, Scaturro is president of the Grant Monument Association.
Saving Grant's Tomb
Civil War general and 18th U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant died in 1885 and was interred in New York City's Riverside Park. Grant's Tomb is the largest mausoleum in the Western Hemisphere and was once among the nation's most widely visited tourist attractions. By the 1990s, however, the site had fallen into a severe state of disrepair. The tomb was scarred by graffiti. The roof leaked, the granite was cracked, and the area was used by the homeless as a latrine and drug haven. Scaturro regarded the desecration of Grant's Tomb as a national disgrace.
The tomb was administered by the National Park Service, part of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Scaturro volunteered with the Park Service to conduct guided tours at the site while he was an undergraduate. He alerted Park Service officials that the tomb urgently needed repair, but to no avail. He persisted complaining regularly to Park Service bureaucrats, including a 26-page report submitted in the summer of 1992. For over two years, Park Service officials simply ignored him. Undeterred, he went public with a 325-page whistleblowing report he sent to Congress and the President. His efforts drew national media attention, including a 1994 New York Times editorial entitled "Dishonor for a Hero President" which said, "the tomb's lamentable condition demands more funds from Washington."[10] Scaturro also sued the Interior Department and National Park Service in federal court to force it to fulfill its legal duties to the public. His efforts paid off. Congress tripled the site's operations budget, including funds for security during off hours when the site was closed, and appropriated $1.8 million for a full restoration. Scaturro explained to reporters, "I only did what I did because I had no other resort ... the only thing left was abandoning the site, and that was not an alternative to me." Restoration was completed by April 27, 1997, the 100th anniversary of the site's dedication and Grant's 175th birthday. It was re-dedicated that day. Grant's descendants, appalled by the prior condition of the tomb, hailed Scaturro as a hero.
Scaturro published several books and articles about history and law, including President Grant Reconsidered (1998) which triggered a broad scholarly reassessment of the Grant presidency
Our 6th Recipient -
Mark Trout
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Missouri Civil War Museum Director Mark Trout
was presented a flag that flew over the grave of General William T. Sherman by our camp on February 23rd. Mark was and still is the driving force behind the creation of the Museum. It is a fact to say that without him, there would be no Missouri Civil War Museum. Mark also regularly helps our camp in holding events by offering the Museum's resources. He has continually stepped up to preserve the history of the Civil War and to honor its soldiers. For all he has done to preserve history, Mark Trout deserves this rare honor. |
In the slide show above are pictured Mark Trout; his daughter, Kristine; Camp Commander Craig Mathews, Sr, PCC; and Camp Members Walt Busch, PDC, and Bob Aubuchon, PCC.
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Other Recipients
From time to time, the Camp may permit a Sherman Flag to go to some other worthy person or cause. We permitted one raffle of it to support the 2021 National Encampment of the Allied Orders held in St. Louis. We also voted for allowing Past Camp Commanders of U.S. Grant Camp 68 to receive one, provide that they cover all costs. So far, only PDC John Avery, also a past Grant Camp commander, has been presented a flag without costs due to his continued service to this organization.
PDC John Avery receives Sherman Flag from his Camp Companions
Pictured with John are PCC Mark Coplin, PDC Martin Aubuchon & PDC Walt Busch
Pictured with John are PCC Mark Coplin, PDC Martin Aubuchon & PDC Walt Busch
Past Commander Walt Busch receives his Sherman Flag from Mark Coplin at the 2023 Christmas Dinner
Past National SUVCW Council of Administration, Past Department Commander, National Monuments Officer since 2012, National SUVCW Cornelius Whitehouse Award for Most Outstanding Member in 2012, Past Commander - Central Region Allied Orders of the GAR, Department Webmaster and long-time editor of the Missouri Unionist
Past National SUVCW Council of Administration, Past Department Commander, National Monuments Officer since 2012, National SUVCW Cornelius Whitehouse Award for Most Outstanding Member in 2012, Past Commander - Central Region Allied Orders of the GAR, Department Webmaster and long-time editor of the Missouri Unionist
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2021-2022 National Commander-in-Chief, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Michael A. Paquette wins raffle at St. Louis 2021 National Encampment and receives a Sherman Flag.
When we agreed at our meeting to allow this flag to be raffled to raise funds for the Department of Missouri SUVCW, we also said that we would never allow a raffle again. |
Commander Paquette receiving his Sherman Flag from PCC Mark Coplin.
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