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Following the War for Southern Independence, many surviving Southern soldiers joined to form a veteran's organization named the United Confederate Veterans (UCV). The Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV), formed in Richmond, Virginia in 1896, is the one and only heir to this legacy.

Loving the South and defending its culture, symbols and heritage does not mean hate. In fact, many SCV members are descendants of Confederates from various ethnicities and religious beliefs. The contributions of these groups to Southern culture have made it a beautiful and unique region. To deny their descendants membership in our organization would betray our principles and the very ancestors we honor. We welcome all descendants of Confederate soldiers, sailors, and marines or those who materially aided the South in its struggle for independence.


Sons of Confederate Veterans Hate Policy
The Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) is not a hate group. The SCV does not knowingly allow anyone with known hate group connections within its organization. The SCV has removed and will remove anyone from the organization that expresses racist sentiments. Specifically, the following is not permitted and will be grounds for immediate dismissal:

Attempting to recruit fellow SCV members for racist groups
Disseminating racist literature to fellow SCV members, either through mailings or in person.

ALL MEMBERS MUST BE AWARE OF THESE RESTRICTIONS,

AS THEY WILL BE RIGOROUSLY ENFORCED.

Meeting Location

How to Join

Membership in the Sons of Confederate Veterans is open to all male descendants of any veteran who served honorably in the Confederate armed forces. Membership can be obtained through either lineal or collateral family lines and kinship to a veteran must be documented genealogically. The minimum age for full membership is 12, but there is no minimum for Cadet membership.


Applicants should submit an membership application, along with a detailed genealogy pedigree describing your relationship to the veteran and proof of his service. This should include his name, unit, state of service, and information as to his honorable service [killed/wounded/captured/ discharged].

To obtain proof of his service, contact the archives of the state from which the soldier fought and obtain a copy of the veteran's military service record. All Southern state's archives have microfilm records of the soldiers who fought from that state, and a copy of the information can be obtained for a nominal fee. In addition, the former Confederate states awarded pensions to veterans and their widows. All of these records contain a wealth of information that can be used to document military service.
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Please note that finding someone listed in the Broadfoot Roster with the same name as your ancestor does not constitute proof (John Jones from Tennessee). You must use accepted standards of genealogical research to demonstrate that the two men are, in fact, the same.
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Each Camp in the Florida Division has genealogists to assist you in tracing you ancestor's Confederate service. 

Membership Benefits

  • Participation in local, state and national events

  • Membership certificate

  • Subscription to the Confederate Veteran bimonthly magazine

  • Subscription to the bimonthly Chapter newsletter

  • Best of all, you'll be helping to preserve the honorable memory of the Confederate fighting man.

Membership Checklist

  • Completed Membership Application 

  • Lineage chart showing from applicant to the Confederate soldier

  • Proof of Confederate soldier's honorable service in the CSA Military

  • ** Payment for membership into the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Florida Division

** The SCV has a proration plan that will allow your membership in the national organization to be current through the next year. Camp and Division dues are not included in this program. Contact the Camp you wish to join for more information. 
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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV)?

A: The SCV is the direct heir of the United Confederate Veterans, and the oldest hereditary organization for male descendants of Confederate soldiers. Organized at Richmond, Virginia in 1896, the SCV continues to serve as a historical, patriotic, and non-political organization dedicated to insuring that a true history of the 1861-1865 period is preserved.

Q. Who can join the SCV? 

A: Membership in the Sons of Confederate Veterans is open to ALL male descendants, age 12 years or older, of Confederate Veterans.

Q. Do I have to be a member of the SCV to be a member of the Florida Division?

A: Yes. To be a member of the Division, you must first be a "current" member in good standing of the National SCV.

Q. Do I have to be a member of the SCV to be a member of the Mechanized Cavalry?

A: Yes. To be a member of the Mechanized Cavalry, you must first be a "current" member in good standing of the National SCV.

Q. What do I have to have to join the SCV?

A: There are 4 items that are needed for membership into the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Florida Division. Completed application, Applicant's lineage sheet to the Confederate Veteran, Proof of the Confederate Veteran's service, and payment for membership.

Q. How much does it cost to join?

A: That would depend on the Camp you desire to join and when you plan on joining. Each Camp sets their own dues amount and the SCV has a proration that can apply to people that wish to join the SCV during certain periods of the year. Proration, simply is an option that will allow your membership to be current through the next year. Check with the Adjutant of the Camp you wish to join to find out if this applies to you and what their Camp dues are.

**Currently, "regular" dues for National HQ are $35/year and $15/year for the Florida Division.

Q. What do I get with my membership?

A: Once your membership is approved and you are added to the Camp, Division, and National rosters, you will receive a very nice membership SCV certificate (suitible for framing) with your name and your ancestor's name and unit, a subscription to the Confederate Veteran magazine that is put out by the National HQ, you will receive a membership card with your membership ID, you will get a subscription to The Blockade Runner put out by the Florida Division, you will receive your Camp's newsletter, you will have the opportunity to attend various SCV workshops, Division and National Reunions, and you will gain 30,000+ new "brothers".

Why Am I a Member?

Daryl E. Ratterree
Camp Commander
S.C.V., Dixie Defenders,
Camp 1861

“I am proud member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans because of the history, heritage and honor. I am proud of who my people were. There were 10 Ratterree boy's (Men) who fought for the Confederacy. Three of them never returned from the War Between The States. We still don't know where they are buried.
On my father’s side of the family, my Great Great Grandfather Asa B. Ratterree served in the Arkansas First Artillery Unit. The closest to the area I live now was my Great Great Uncle Robert Ratterree. He is buried in the Micanopy Cemetery in Micanopy, Florida. He came to this area after the War where he became a farmer and lived out his life. I searched for his grave for about 12 years and finally found him about 4 years ago. Many thanks to the Micanopy Historical Society for their help in locating him. That is just on my Father’s side of the family.
On my mother’s side of the family, there were two Brown's buried in and around Atlanta, Georgia; two Beall's in the Atlanta, Georgia area; one Dempsey in the Atlanta, Georgia area; and three Clement's in Mississippi. Needless to say, my Southern roots run deep and strong. That is a heritage that I am darn proud of.
What were they fighting for? Slavery? I don't think so. All of them were too poor to own any slaves. If they could have, they probably would not have as all were Southern Baptist and the Good Book does not condone it.
In closing my entire family has evidently always been proud of who they were, as my Grandfather on my mother’s side was aptly named Robert E. Lee Brown. There were many more, but too keep it short I will stop there. From a proud Southerner.”

Joe F. Mikell
Lieutenant Commander
S.C.V., Dixie Defenders,
Camp 1861

I am a veteran of the United States Air Force and a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, because I have a deep sense of loyalty to my family and that especially includes my paternal Great Grandfather Allen Mikell and my maternal Great Grandfather Lewis Frazier who were volunteers in the Confederate Army and had no hope of recognition except that their sacrifice that would be remembered by their families as they gave their service in defense of their country, their homes and those who would come after them. I am very proud to be a descendant of these men that gave so much under conditions of extreme privation and against an enemy of overwhelming numbers and equipment
I believe in the promise of the man of Galilee who said “there is life after death” and as my Great Grandfathers look down upon me from the Valhalla of heroes, I want them to know that I am grateful and that I remember and honor their bravery and sacrifice.
I am proud to be a Southerner and am proud of the culture, grace and elegance of the Old South. I love the Confederate Flag and “Dixie” as stirring symbols of my heritage and I love the Star Spangled Banner and the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the United States that I served for twenty years and that I proudly display everyday.
My service in the Air Force and my Sons of Confederate Veterans membership is not only duty, but a pleasure. It has inspired me to become much better informed about my own family, history and heritage, and to record it for our children’s benefit. I enjoy the social activities, the association with ladies and gentlemen of like background and the many warm friendships that have resulted, both locally and all over the world. I am proud to be a Vet."

Harvey Resnick
Legionnaire
S.C.V., Dixie Defenders,
Camp 1861

"I am from the north, went to public schools, and had some college. The history that was taught in school was much different from what I’ve learned since moving to Florida in 1979. I became interested in the southern culture, language, mannerisms, and many other aspects about the south.
As with so many other things in life, there are two sides to every story. Since living here, I have learned the “true story of why there was a conflict between the states”. The war wasn’t because of slavery. It was fought because the north undervalued the south, in both money and commerce. Goods from the south were not provided equal value as those from the north. Plain and simple. So, the south reached its boiling point and wanted to succeed from the union; therefore, a war began.
This is a shortened summary of why the war began, but I encourage everyone to investigate the truth behind the war. Looking at the war from an historical perspective will help you come to your own understanding as to why 11 states withdrew from the American Union to form the Confederate States of America.
After having the opportunity to meet some of the Florida confederate relatives, getting to know them, and going to the SCV meetings, I know that this was an organization that I wanted to belong to. Even though I did not confederate relatives, I was able to join this great organization as a Legionnaire.
One quote I relate to and hope you will as well comes from Warriors of Honor, which says, “A nation that is ignorant of its past, is a nation that is ripe for deception and manipulation. Therefore, it is not what happened, but rather what people believe happened which determines the present actions of a nation.” Another great quote was once said by George Washington. He said, “Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation. It is better to be alone than in bad company"."