By the end of the Spanish American War, many of the veterans began to express interest in forming an organization to stay in touch with their former comrades much like the Grand Army of the Republic and the United Confederate Veterans. Their stated mission was "to unite fraternally, members of the United States Military who served in the Spanish-American War. To honor the memory of the fallen comrades. To assist former comrades and their families (widows, orphans, etc.). To perpetuate the memory of the Spanish American War."
At first there were numerous organizations, all called by different names i.e. Spanish War Veterans, Servicemen of the Spanish War, American Veterans of Foreign Service, etc. But by 1908, all of the splinter groups had merged to become the “United Spanish War Veterans.” This group consisted of the veterans of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War and China Relief Expedition.
The structure of the organization was identical to the Union and Confederate organizations of Pensacola in that they were formed on a national, state, and a local level, called a “camp.” They held a national convention on an annual basis in a city chosen for their facilities and hospitality.
In Pensacola, the SAW “camp” was still functioning as late as 1944 and were held at the VFW home at 236 West Garden Street on Sunday afternoon. Members included John W. Mann, E. A. Guillot, J. D. Carroll, John H. Barber, and Walter L. Carlock.
By 1992, the Spanish War Veterans ceased to exist when America's last member, Nathan E. Cook, died just one month prior to his 107th birthday. He enlisted in 1901 and was a veteran of the Philippine-American War!
Spanish American War Veterans
Pensacola News Journal 5-26-1918
Pensacola News Journal 11-13-1944
Pensacola News Journal 12-12-1944
Spanish American War Memorial
Erected 1942 in Augusta, Georgia