Elisha Dyer Camp no. 7
"Who will remember the Boys in Blue? We will!"
Elisha Dyer Camp no. 7 was Chartered in 1909 in Providence, Rhode Island.
As with many early SofV Camps across the Nation, it was founded in close association with, and by, a local Post of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Dyer Camp hails from R.I.G.A.R. Arnold Post 4, and was mentored by Comrades of that Post. Elisha Dyer Camp no. 7 supported Post 4 in all aspects of its duties until its final Comrade was laid to rest in 1930.
Below: Image of Officers of the Department of Rhode Island, Sons of Veterans, with Commander-in-Chief Charles F. Sherman, Providence, RI, 1915.

Commandery
Since 1909, Elisha Dyer Camp 7 can trace an unbroken chain of Camp Commanders from its founding to the present day. Several of these dedicated Brothers have served in the capacity of Camp Commander more than once. Some have served in consecutive years, others have been elected to the office again after several years. The tie that binds each and every one of them is a dedication to his Camp, his Brothers, and his steadfast commitment to remember the Boys in Blue.
Throughout the Camp's history, terms varied based on the month of the year elections were held and Camp officers installed. For that reason, Camp Commanders are listed below by year of election.
The data on Camp Commanders from the first 100 years of Camp 7's history has been compiled from multiple sources, including Department of Rhode Island, Grand Army of the Republic Annual Encampment Reports; Department of Rhode Island, Sons of Union Veterans Annual Reports; RISUVCW archive records; Elisha Dyer Camp 7 archive records; State of Rhode Island archive records, State of Rhode Island Legislature Reports, and The Providence Journal, among other sources. Any information contained herein may be amended or adjusted (such as spelling, initials, service) as continued research and findings help to complete the full picture of Elisha Dyer Camp 7's history.
Elisha Dyer Camp no. 7 Commanders

James P. McGuire, PDC
2025

Joseph Brennan
2023
2024

Ronald Barnes
2021
2022

Peter Sarazin
2020

Alan W. Head
2019

Kenneth L. Pike, PCC
2017
2018

Michael Alves
2016

Scott A. Reese
2015
Dept. Commander 2019

Kenneth L. Pike
2014

Michael J. Stewart
2013

John A. Connor
2012

James P. McGuire
2011
Department Commander 2016, 2017, 2018

Paul Cairrao
2010

Henry C. Duquette
2009
Department Commander 2012, 2013

Gregg A. Mierka, PDC
2008

Gregory H. Payne, PCC
2005
2006
2007

George A. Perry, PCC
2004

Geoffrey D. Gardner
2003

David J. Duggan
2002

Gregory H. Payne
2001

George A. Perry, PCC
2000

Harry B. Pierce
1999

Robert L. Renehan
1998

Dennis P. Kohl
1997

Matthew J. Hecht
1996

George A. Perry
1995

Jan M. Ourabka
1994

Brian Guiot
1993

Gregg A. Mierka
1992
Department Commander
1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999

Aram A. Plante
1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
Department Commander
1992, 1993

Kenneth Bouvier
1987

Dennis Wilks
1985
1986
Department Commander 1989

Joseph A. Plante, PDC
1983
1984

Earle T.M. Hinze Jr, PDC
1982

Joseph A. Plante, PDC
1980
1981

Warren B. Boulester
1979

Joseph A. Plante, PDC
1978

John A. Young
1977

Earle T.M. Hinze, Jr., PCC
1976

Joseph A. Plante
1975
Department Commander
1977, 1985, 1986

Russell E. Cole
1974

Warren B. Boulester
1973

Clarence E. Plante
1972

James B. Magee, PCC
1971

Charles E. Reynolds
1970

Warren B. Boulester
1968
1969
Department Commander
1973, 1974

Earle T.M. Hinze Jr.
1967
Department Commander 1970

Robert E. Young
1966
Department Commander 1969

Norman E. Briggs
1965

Clarence E. Young, PDC
1964

James B. Magee, PCC
1963

Robert Dobbrow
1961
1962

Charles L. Huling
1960

James B. Magee
1959

Frederick Holden, PCC
1958

Warren B. Boulester
1954
1955
1956
1957

Vincent Bonner
1953

Robert G.E. Fowler, PCC
1952

William E. Hooper, PCC
1951

Earl C. Blake
1950

Robert G. E. Fowler
1949

George A. Parker
1948

William E. Hooper
1947

Elmer A. Chaffell
1946

Albert B. W. Fowler, PCC
1945

Reginald Harris, PCC
1944

Frank J. Finegan
1943

Charles M. Skinner
1941
1942

Frederick Holden
Oct. 1939-1940
1940

Clarence E. Young
1938
1939 (Resigned Oct. '39 - Enlisted U.S. Army)
Department Commander
1955, 1963

Walter F. Oatley
1937

George C. Parker, PCC
1936

Albert B. W. Fowler, PCC
1935

Enoch A. Hoyt, PDC
1934

Reginald Harris
1933

Ira Whitcher
1932

Wallace Macomber
1930
1931

Lewis Money
1929

Leander Capswell
1928

George C. Parker
1927

Henry A. Sampson
1926

David H. Gilmore
1925

Frank B. Wight
1924

Albert B. W. Fowler
1923

Clinton Thomas Smith
1922

Walter H. Waterman
1921

Albert Aldrich
1920

William Down
1919

Enoch A. Hoyt
1917
1918
Department Commander 1921

Charles S. Gould
1916

John M. Lewin
1915

Frank A. Smith
1914

Lewis Richardson Cobb
1913

Alfred F. Bennett
1912

Louis C. Sheffield
1911

G. Leon Lewis
1909
1910