Greetings,

Welcome to the official website of the Army of Northern Virginia, Sons of Confederate Veterans. The term Army of Northern Virginia can be confusing both historically and today. It encompasses much more than Northern Virginia or even the Commonwealth of Virginia. During the War for Southern Independence the Union and Confederate Armies often used different names for battles and theaters of operation. The Union tended to use rivers or other bodies of water where the Confederacy took the name of the nearest town or other land area. Such was the case of Bull Run/Manassas and Antietam/Sharpsburg. Much of the war was fought in the ninety (90) mile distance between the two Capitols of Richmond and Washington, D.C. Therefore, the Union called it's force the Army of the Potomac and General R. E. Lee called his troops the Army of Northern Virginia.

Today the Sons of Confederate Veterans is divided into three armies. This is for organizational and administrative purposes and to better serve our membership. Just as it did then, the Army of Northern Virginia includes several states called Divisions. These States are Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West[ern] Virginia, New York, and Europe, yes, even Europe.

To be a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans one must be at least twelve (12) years of age and the male descendent of a Confederate Veteran. One need not be from or even live in the South to be a member. In fact, there were men from the North and foreign countries who fought for the Confederacy.

There is also confusion as to what the Sons of Confederate Veterans is and what our goals are. We are just as our name states, a veterans organization. Our ancestors knew that there would be no future Confederate Veterans to carry on for them. That is why they placed the defense of their cause and the preservation of our heritage into the hands of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. On April 25, 1906 at New Orleans, Louisiana. General Stephen Dill Lee gave us our charge:

"To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we submit the vindication of the Cause for which we fought. To your strength will be given the defense of the Confederate soldier's good name, the guardianship of his history, the emulation of his virtues, the perpetuation of those principles which he loved and which you love also, and those ideas which made him glorious and which you also cherish..."

At this time, we are grand, great grand, and great, great grandsons with only a few Real Sons left. We believe in the constitution, individual liberty, states rights, true representative government, and fair taxation. The same things that our ancestors fought for, and the same things that many citizens are calling for today. As the current Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, I welcome you to the Sons of Confederate Veterans and this Army. If you do not live in the aforementioned states there are the two other Armies, the Army of Tennessee and the Army of the Trans-Mississippi.

Please view other areas of our web site and in particular the short film, "All But Their Honor." Consider joining the Sons of Confederate Veterans to help us tell the true history of our ancestors and our heritage. Remember, these men are your blood family. Don't let others rewrite their story. Please seek me out at Southern Heritage Events. I look forward to the honor of shaking your hand and welcoming you to the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Deo Vindice,

B. Frank Earnest, Commander
Army of Northern Virginia
Sons of Confederate Veterans

Dear Friends and Compatriots:

Well, here we are … well into Sesquicentennial observances and working on the first year of VISION 2016. So much is happening all around us – the role of our region in choosing a President … the dynamic of states’ rights in the national dialogue … what a great time to be a Southerner! The issues for which our ancestors contended are as fresh and relevant as today’s newspaper. On second thought, instead of today’s newspaper, maybe I should say today’s news websites.

We have an opportunity to communicate our history to others with a frame of reference that few preceding generations have enjoyed. Yet, if we are going to see this organization grow to our expectations (50,000 members by the 2016 Reunion), we are going to have to get beyond the formula that we so often depend upon – tough talk and good intentions.

You’ve often heard this, or a similar statement, “our problem isn’t recruiting – it’s retention.” While that statement might be true, considered in a vacuum, it also seems abundantly clear that our struggle with retention is due, in part, to our recruiting methods.

Recently, I was asked to prepare a presentation on this subject … an area that I feel is better described by the word “GROWTH.” In addition to “Recruiting” and “Retention” there are three more “R-words” that are important to a consistent strategy of GROWTH. The following presentation will explain this in greater detail:

SCV MMXII Leadership (Please View as Slide Show)

I believe that you and your camp will find this presentation helpful. If you have comments or questions or you’d like me to give this presentation for your camp, brigade or division, please get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you.

With Confederate Regards,

Gene Hogan, Councilman
Army of Northern Virginia
Sons of Confederate Veterans
(866) 681-7314
gene.hogan@gmail.com