Virginia Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion

Virginia Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion News and events of interest to friends of the VA Commandery, Military Order of the Loyal Legion

We note the death on Sunday, June 7 of William "Bill" Poole of Missouri, age 101, the last known surviving "Real Son" of...
06/09/2026

We note the death on Sunday, June 7 of William "Bill" Poole of Missouri, age 101, the last known surviving "Real Son" of a Union soldier of the Civil War.

Bill's father, Charles Poole Sr., was born in Ritchie County, Virginia (now West Virginia) in 1844. Charles enlisted in the 6th West Virginia Infantry in 1861, and suffered the loss of a leg from battle wounds. He married Clara Straw in 1915 and had five children, including Bill in 1925. Clara died age 101 in 1989, still receiving her Union widow's pension.

Bill served in Europe during World War II, receiving a Bronze Star for valor. He returned home to marry, raise nine children, and work in the construction trades.

MEMORIAL DAY 2026: today's ceremony at Cold Harbor National Cemetery, organized by Brady Camp #63, SUVCW.
05/25/2026

MEMORIAL DAY 2026: today's ceremony at Cold Harbor National Cemetery, organized by Brady Camp #63, SUVCW.

Companions from The District of Columbia, Virginia and Pennsylvania, along with Dames National President Laurie Moore, e...
04/12/2026

Companions from The District of Columbia, Virginia and Pennsylvania, along with Dames National President Laurie Moore, enjoyed on Saturday a fascinating "staff ride" on the Fredericksburg battlefield, part of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields National Military Park. Command structure and control, logistics, terrain, and other elements of the Fredericksburg campaign of November and December 1862 were discussed in-depth, led by NPS Ranger Ryan Quint.

The walk finished in Fredericksburg National Cemetery, overlooking the killing ground of Marye's Heights. Participants placed a wreath at the grave of Capt. John Rummstein Kooken, Company "C", 110th Pennsylvania Infantry. Capt. Kooken was wounded there on December 13, 1862 and died the next day.

Thanks for Virginia Commander John S. Moore and D.C. Commander John D. Moore for organizing and leading this event!

The Loyal Legion insignia sits proudly on the uniform jacket of Bvt. Maj. Edward Winslow Coffin, as part of the Army Qua...
03/23/2026

The Loyal Legion insignia sits proudly on the uniform jacket of Bvt. Maj. Edward Winslow Coffin, as part of the Army Quartermaster Museum at Fort Lee, near Petersburg. The jacket, donated to the Museum in 2024, helps tell the story of those who fed and supplied United States forces in the Civil War. Coffin (Companion #01795) served in the U.S. Volunteers Commissary Department from March 1862 until his muster out in December 1865.

Reminder of Commandery Meeting!The Virginia Commandery is gathering this Saturday, November 15 for dinner and comaraderi...
11/10/2025

Reminder of Commandery Meeting!

The Virginia Commandery is gathering this Saturday, November 15 for dinner and comaraderie at Patrick Henry Pub & Grille, 2302 E. Broad Street, in Richmond's historic Church Hill. We'll enjoy cocktails starting at six, followed by a brief meeting and dinner. Companions, spouses and guests are welcome. Parking is plentiful on surrounding streets.

Please RSVP to Jeffry Burden via message to this page.

Companions from around the country gathered in Philadelphia this past weekend for the 140th Meeting of the Order and its...
10/06/2025

Companions from around the country gathered in Philadelphia this past weekend for the 140th Meeting of the Order and its Board of Officers. We welcome Paul Davis of Michigan as the new Commander-in-Chief.

Commander John S. Moore and Recorder Jeffry Burden were proud to represent the Virginia Commandery.

NEW IN NORTH CAROLINA: A stone for the unmarked grave of an Original Companion of the Loyal Legion is now in place in As...
08/03/2025

NEW IN NORTH CAROLINA: A stone for the unmarked grave of an Original Companion of the Loyal Legion is now in place in Asheville. Warrington D. Roath served as an Acting Volunteer Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, including as commander of the gunboat Antona.

The Virginia Commandery, with the on-site help of Virginia Companion Robert Crum of North Carolina, arranged to receive the marker from the Department of Veterans Affairs and its grave marker program. Many thanks to Jonathan Neary of Riverside Cemetery, and his staff, for their assistance.

The Commandery-in-Chief has launched an initiative to encourage Companions and others to mark the similarly-unmarked resting places of Original Companions. See the upcoming issue of the Loyal Legion Historical Journal for more details.

We have sad news to pass along: Virginia Honorary Companion Eric Wittenberg died today after a long battle with cancer. ...
08/03/2025

We have sad news to pass along: Virginia Honorary Companion Eric Wittenberg died today after a long battle with cancer. A lawyer by profession, he was also the well-known author and co-author of many works on the Civil War, often with a focus on cavalry operations.

Our condolences to his family and many friends.

National Park Service Ranger, and Virginia Companion, Frank O'Reilly helps support battlefield preservation in a recent ...
07/23/2025

National Park Service Ranger, and Virginia Companion, Frank O'Reilly helps support battlefield preservation in a recent talk.

Virginia Commandery members joined with the Brady Camp #63, SUVCW at Cold Harbor National Cemetery today for Memorial D...
05/26/2025

Virginia Commandery members joined with the Brady Camp #63, SUVCW at Cold Harbor National Cemetery today for Memorial Day observances. Following the ceremony, the crowd of more than fifty laid flowers on all graves there.

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