It is with extreme pleasure that the department of Missouri announces the acquisition of the 1888 state corporation charter for the Grand Army of the Republic and a gavel used by the Frank Blair Post #1 of St. Louis, Mo.

Both these items were given to the department by John "Jack" Powell of St. Louis, Mo., a longtime member of the St. Louis Civil War Roundtable.

It is now therefore ordered that:

1. Hereafter, all members of the department will treat Jack Powell as a respected friend of the department for his most gracious gift and to offer their assistance to him.
2. The charter which is showing the effects of its age will be taken in for evaluation for preservation treatment and mounting.
3. It is recommended that the stabilization and funding for such be approved this year by the members of the department.
4. Once it is stabilized, framed and mounted, it will be stored with the original SUV charter for the department and the charter from the 1990s. The mounting/framing will include labeling identifying it as being "Gifted to the Department of Missouri SUVCW by John "Jack" Powell, St. Louis, Mo.
5. It will be displayed on appropriate occasions along with the original SUV charter.
6. The gavel will be stored in an archivally safe display box when purchased by the department. A label will be in the box identifying it as coming from "Frank Blair Post No. 1 G.A.R." and "Gifted to the Department of Missouri SUVCW by John 'Jack' Powell, St. Louis, Mo."
7. The gavel may, if desired, be used by future department commanders only at the annual department encampment or by the national commander at any future national encampments held within this state.

By Authority of

Walter E. Busch
Commander
Department of Missouri
SUVCW