Before I talk about the GAR memorial tree in Reno, I want to discuss the history of the GAR and role in the planting of the GAR memorial tree.
How the GAR Came About
During the Civil War, units were at first made up of men from certain communities. These men had grown up together and now were fighting alongside on another. As the war went on and members of units were lost, soldiers began to form new friendships with soldiers from other places. At the end of the war, as soldiers tried settling back into civilian life, many longed for the days of camp life and the bonds they had formed during the war. "Groups of men began joining together--first for camaraderie and then for political power. Emerging most powerful among the various organizations would be the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), which by 1890 would number 409,489 veterans of the 'War of the Rebellion' (Knight, http://suvcw.org/research.htm).
The GAR was founded in Decatur, Illinois on April 6, 1866 by Benjamin F. Stephenson. Because the war had left so many wounded veterans, widows, and orphans behind, the GAR was created to be a charitable organization "active in relief work and in pension legislation" (Knight http://suvcw.org/research.htm). It recaptured the camaraderie and community feel for those who survived the war. For some "soldier-politicaians," the GAR also worked as a "voting machine" (McConnell 25). In fact, five U.S. presidents were members of the GAR. One particular soldier-politician was Norton Chipman. Chipman took over the GAR after Stephenson. After acquiring this new duty, Chipman realized that many "posts and departments... [had] organized largely upon their own responsibility" (McConnell 28). He also found that many of these posts did not make reports back to headquarter, his main problem being those out West. Apparently, the Western states rarely reported back at all.
The Planting of the Memorial Tree
On June 11, 1913, the Reno Evening Gazette published the 25,000 people showed up to a GAR parade. The GAR was having a convention and the day was declared a public holiday and people from the surrounding areas came. After the parade there was a flag raising and the tree-planting ceremony. About 1,000 people attended. The soil that it was planted in was gathered by Commander Thomas from Civil War from battlefields from the south. Along with the the tree-planting, Governer Oddie gave an address, songs were sang, and a history of the American flag was given. (From what I can gather, Commander Thomas was probably the Commander-in-Chief of the GAR.)
