CONNECT WITH SoGAR
Welcome to our website! We’re glad you chose to visit us.
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The Society of the Grand Army of the Republic (SoGAR) is a historical, educational, and patriotic organization and a 501(c)3 charity founded in 2017. Our fraternal society is dedicated to advancing an understanding of the Civil War.
SoGAR is responsible for the restoration of the GAR Monument in Patchogue, as well as the placement of historic roadside markers for our Citizen Soldier in Patchogue, for Civil War General Regis deTrobriand in Sayville, and for General Nathaniel McLean in Bellport. We obtained the new government headstone for forgotten Civil War sailor Alfred Griffin and then honored him with a dedication ceremony in Hauppauge, NY. Please see the news links below to learn more about our efforts.
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SoGAR actively works to identify local Civil War Veterans, honoring and restoring their graves. We research their military units’ histories and explore how the Civil War impacted our communities. Our purposes are detailed on this web page.
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Excepting July and August, our meetings are held at 7:00 PM on the third Wednesday of the month at the VFW Hall on Edwards Street in Patchogue, New York. Please join our mailing list (see box above) to receive meeting reminders and other announcements. We hope to see you soon!
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PS -- Visit our LinkTree to view our links easily using your smartphone!
CURRENT
OFFICERS
​Thomas Badamo
Director General
Paul Brinkman
Vice Director General
Aniella Badamo
Secretary General
Joseph Vermaelen
Chief of Staff & Treasurer General
George Munkenbeck
Chaplain General
Bruce Weidenburner
Adjutant General
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Kathleen Vermaelen
Signal Corps General
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Daniel Prunty
Graves Registration General
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Scott McKendrick
Aide de Camp
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Updated 25 Jun 2023
UPCOMING
EVENTS
DECEMBER 27, 2023
SoGAR HOLIDAY PARTY
VFW Hall, Patchogue, NY
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
All members are invited to join us for merry-making at our annual potluck supper party!
NOVEMBER 24, 2023
HONORING GENERAL MCLEAN
Woodland Cemetery, 100 Station Road, Bellport, NY
We will place wreaths at the General's gravesite, then unveil a new historic roadside marker honoring his service to our country.
SEPTEMBER 30 - OCTOBER 1, 2023
CIVIL WAR WEEKEND
Islip Grange, Sayville, NY
Hosted by our friends, the 67th NY Infantry Long Island Volunteers. If you missed us at the fair last weekend, come see us!
FROM THE
NEWS
JUNE 20, 2023
Juneteenth Celebrated in Patchogue (Newsday)
JUNE 17, 2023
Black Civil War Veteran Alfred Griffin Receives Headstone in Hauppauge (News12)
JUNE 17, 2023
3 headstones unveiled for military veterans in Hauppauge (Newsday)
JUNE 15, 2023
Dedication of headstone for Alfred Griffin, former enslaved man who was never recognized (CBS2 News)
NOVEMBER 18, 2022
Islip Marker Honors Regis deTrobriand (Newsday)