United States. A Union Veterans Union (UVU) Membership Badge, Surgeon/Major F.W. Mercer, 20th Mass.

Early Version. In red bronze, obverse engraver marked "A. DEMAREST. SC. NEW YORK." and marked "PAT. 1879", reverse engraved "F. W. MERCER - Major - and SURGEON - 20 MASS. - Infantry. Staff 2d Div. 2 Corps - A. P. - - 1864 -", measuring 33.7 mm (w) x 43 mm (h), suspended from a 40.7 mm (w) x 31.7 mm (h) eagle suspension inscribed "THE UNION", the reverse of the eagle with a bar and pinback, surface wear on the reverse, edge nicks, bruised, replacement ribbon, very fine. Accompanied by a Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Lapel Badge in bronze, measuring 11 mm (w) x 14.5 mm (h), with button hole attachment.

Footnote: The Union Veterans Union was formed in Washington, D.C. in 1886, to fill a need that many Civil War Veterans felt was lacking. There was no question that the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was the strongest of all Union Veterans organizations. But many felt they had become an 'elitist' group, losing touch with some of the real concerns of the typical Union Veteran. MOLLUS, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S., in which only officers were admitted, was viewed as an 'aristocratic' society and provided no real camaraderie to the enlisted veteran.