A number of similar organizations followed to provide services, fellowship and comradeship within military units, such as the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, Society of the Army of the James, etc. The very first organization founded by the veterans of the Civil War was the Third Army Corps Union which was founded during the course of the war in March, 1862, initially to provide burial services and embalming for the member officers. One of these was the Grand Army of the Republic, or simply the G.A.R. Many were local and most did not last very long but a few went on to become national organizations. Veterans' clubs began to spring up around the country. Some of these men began to pine for the friendships and camaraderie that they had shared during the war. After their service in the Union armed forces during the great Civil War had ended, many of the veterans who survived the turmoil were mustered out of service and had gone home.