" We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain,
that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and
that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. "
-- Abraham Lincoln
WHO WE ARE
MISSION
The Society of the Grand Army of the Republic (SoGAR) is a historical, educational and patriotic organization, a 501(c)3 charity, founded in 2017 to save the Civil War Monument in Patchogue, New York. We are dedicated to advancing an understanding of the Civil War. We actively work to identify Civil War Veterans from Long Island, honoring and restoring their graves, researching Long Island military units' histories and exploring how the war impacted our local communities.
FOUNDING MEMBERS
The founding members of Richard J. Clark Post 210 are Thomas Badamo, Scott McKendrick, Paul Brinkman, and Joseph Vermaelen. These four worked with the Village of Patchogue to remove, restore and replace the GAR monument located on Baker Street in Patchogue while building a new society for all who are passionate about history, education and patriotism.
DIVERSITY
SoGAR recognizes and celebrates the service of all who worked to preserve the Union and liberty for all. This includes:
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Women such as Kady Brownell & Sarah Edmonds Seelye, who served on the battlefield, and Clara Barton, who nursed the battle-wounded,
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Black soldiers such as Edward Reid (buried in Patchogue, NY) and spies such as Harriet Tubman, Mary Elizabeth Bowser, and John Scobell, without whose efforts the war could not have been won,
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Approximately 20,000 Native Americans including General Ely S. Parker, who answered Lincoln's call to arms,
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Asian Immigrants such as Ah Yee Way (Thomas Sylvanus) and Edward Day Cohota, who chose to fight for the preservation of their new country,
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The 39th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Co. D, "The Spanish Company" of the Garibaldi Guard,
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and many others whose service traditionally has not been acknowledged.
HISTORY OF THE G.A.R.
Founded in 1866, the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) was a veterans’ fraternal organization for men (and two women) who served in the Union Army, Navy or Marines during the American Civil War (1861-1865). In its heyday, the G.A.R. worked to better the lives of veterans and established “Decoration Day,” known now as Memorial Day. The organization ceased to exist upon the death of its last member in 1956.
OUR PATRIOT
Richard J. Clark (b. abt 1838, Ireland) was Assistant Company Commander of the 12th NY Infantry, Co. C. His regiment consisted of three-month, two-year and three-year enlisted men; officers were commissioned and could resign at any time. He mustered in on 8 Jan 1862 and mustered out 30 Jun 1863.
The 12th NY Infantry served in the following battles:
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Battle of Bull Run #1 (July 1861)
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Siege of Yorktown (April - May 1862)
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Battle of Gaines Mill, (July 27, 1862)
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Battle of Bull Run #2 (Aug. 30, 1862)
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Battle of Antietam (Sept. 1862)
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Battle of Fredericksburg (Dec. 1862)
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The Mud March (Jan. 1863)
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Battle of Chancellorsville (May 1 - 5,1863)
In 1883, veterans living in the area between Bay Shore and the Moriches on Long Island established Richard J. Clark Post #210 GAR in Patchogue, NY. Our post honors the memory of this original GAR post.