page_title: Army and Navy Union of the United States of America
section_title: Activities in the past
hierarchical_section_title: Army and Navy Union of the United States of America / Activities in the past
caption_attribution_description: Original Caption: Photograph of Freedom Train U.S. National Archives’ Local Identifier: 64-NA-1-20 From: Historic Photograph File of National Archives Events and Personnel, 1935 - 1975 Created By: General Services Administration. National Archives and Records Service. Office of Educational Programs. Education Division.&#160;?-4/1/1985 Production Date: 11/23/1950 Persistent URL: research.archives.gov/description/12167190 Repository: National Archives at College Park - Still Pictures (RD-DC-S) For information about ordering reproductions of photographs held by the Still Picture Unit, visit: www.archives.gov/research/order/still-pictures.html Reproductions may be ordered via an independent vendor. NARA maintains a list of vendors at www.archives.gov/research/order/vendors-photos-maps-dc.html
context_page_description: The Army and Navy Union of the United States of America is the oldest veterans' organization in America. It was conceived in 1841 and the concept came from nineteenth-century war fighting groups that had the same common interests. Its name changed over time from just a soldier's union to take account for all sailors and soldiers in all branches of the United States Armed Forces.
  Its membership is open to all those who had served honorably or are serving members of the US Armed Forces. The mission and purpose of the organization is to alleviate suffering of veterans or active duty personnel by providing needed services with the help of fraternal comradeship.
context_section_description: On May 30, 1906, then US President, Theodore Roosevelt, delivered a memorial address to thousands at Portsmouth, Virginia under the auspices the Army and Navy Union that concluded with the unveiling of a monument erected at the local Naval Cemetery. The Union began its thirteenth biennial convention in the GAR Hall on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C. on July 17, 1907. It was also the ninth anniversary of the Battle of Santiago de Cuba. They sent a telegram of fraternal greetings to President Roosevelt that morning. A few hours later they received a telegram back from the President's secretary of thanks and best wishes for success of the Union. 
  On September 8, 1909, the Army and Navy Union began its fourteenth biennial convention in Erie, Pennsylvania, at the local Chamber of Commerce. There were over 200 delegates that attended the opening session, among who were veterans of the American Civil War. The assembly sang The Star Spangled Banner at the beginning. There were some women that attended, that were members of the Auxiliary to the Army and Navy Union. It was proposed at this assembly that Congress be petitioned for the raising and restoration of Perry's old ship Niagara. 
  On January 17, 1911, the Army and Navy Union announced its upcoming fifteenth biennial convention in Rochester, New York, at the local Chamber of Commerce for sometime in August. The time was being changed from the scheduled encampment in September, because of requests from the city Convention Committee. Two other conventions were to be scheduled at the same time in August, Grand Army of the Republic and the Ladies Auxiliary to the Army and Navy Union.  At the fifteenth biennial convention that happened in the third week of August there were added ten thousand members from the Seamen's Gunners' League. This in effect doubled the size of the organization. A topic discussed at this convention was if any loyal woman from the Ladies Auxiliary could become a member of the Union.
  On September 8, 1913, the Army and Navy Union began its sixteenth biennial national encampment convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Some of the delegates took a river steamer trip the next day and went up the Delaware River from the Arch street wharf to Port Richmond. They were shown various piers and shipbuilding yards and stopped at League Island. Colonel H. Ogden Lake was presented as the next commander of the national organization, since Commander Downs retired from the position. There were about a thousand delegates that attended this convention.
  On September 20, 1915, the Army and Navy Union began its seventeenth biennial convention in Washington, D.C.. The encampment was coordinated by General Oden Lake, their national commander. There were about 25,000 visitors during this convention, including members of the Army and Navy Union. There was a suite of rooms reserved at the New Willard Hotel for encampment headquarters from June 1 to September 30. A large parade was part of September convention, which involved all the veteran organizations of the Washington area garrisons. The program of events included a grand military ball and a banquet with high ranking government officials.
  On September 12, 1917, the Army and Navy Union began its eighteenth biennial convention at the Bohemian Hall in Baltimore, Maryland. The welcome address was given by Maryland governor Emerson Harrington to 500 delegates. General Oden Lake also spoke at this convention and announced that he would not be running again as their national commander. The next day was scheduled a banquet reception and later in the week an old-time campfire event. Overall there were about 2000 visitors to this convention.
  On September 27, 1947, the Kings County council in New York City of the Army and Navy Union under the command of General Samuel Hoch made available an escort party for the families who were having their soldier dead brought home from World War II. The organization participants gathered at the Flatbush Post of the American Legion on Nostrand Ave at 9 AM to get their instructions from Hoch. He al
caption: Freedom Train of 1947
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