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On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, the Kent Civil War Society will hold its regular monthly meeting, beginning at 7:30 PM. The program portion of the meeting will be presented by Teri Siroki. Her program is entitled The UDC Then and Now

Teri Siroki is a lifelong Ohioan with family ties to both Union and Confederate service. She has been a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy for 15 years, holding many leadership roles at the chapter and division level and now serves nationally as Recording Secretary General. She has devoted time to visiting Confederate historic sites, writing educational programs, and participating in commemorative events. Her work reflects a long-standing commitment to historical research, education and preservation.

Her program will focus on the origin and evolution of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) and its importance in caring for Confederate veterans, their widows and orphans following the war. At a time when strict rules and etiquette governed mourning rituals, the Daughters built monuments to offer a place for families to remember those who never came home. As the veterans aged and died, the daughters devoted themselves to meeting the changing needs of the time.

Ohio, a northern state, played a significant role in the war because the Ohio River was considered the dividing line between North and South. There are two Confederate Cemeteries in Ohio, both at one time under the care of the Ohio Division UDC. The presentation will discuss Ohio's involvement in UDC activities throughout its 127-year history.

Finally, the presentation will discuss current events, and the relevance of the UDC today, offering perspective on how its legacy continues to shape conversations about memory, history, and commemoration.

The public is welcome. The optional pre-meeting dinner will be at Eddy's Deli & Restaurant in Stow, beginning at 5:30 PM.

Please note - the society will be introducing a new meeting night sequence of events in September. The program will be presented first, at 7:30 pm., followed by the business portion of the meeting after the program has finished. Light refreshments will be available a few minutes before the 7:30 start of the meeting and during the business portion of the meeting.

The meeting will be held in the Roy Smith Shelter at Fred Fuller Park
map & directions

Click on the Bivouac newsletter icon or the telegraph press release icon below for more details as they become available.


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***** Society News & Information *****

Our business meeting for the purpose of planning for the next year was held on August 11. As detailed above, a change is being made to the sequence of activities at our meetings. The evening's program will be presented first, at 7:30. The business/notices portion of the meeting will follow the speaker. Refreshments will be available a few minutes before the meeting begins and during the business portion of the meeting.

Programs have been scheduled for most of the next 12 months. March and May are still open, as are September through November. Members are encouraged to give a presentation those months. It's a good way to focus on a Civil War topic of personal interest and contribute to the society.

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If you have suggestions for worthy Civil War preservation or education related causes we should consider donating to, please let Mark Perkins know or email us at info@kentcivilwar.org .

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For last minute information on the Kent Civil War Society meetings, call the society's meeting information hotline at (330) 474-9362 for a recorded message