Sons of Confeerate Veterans (SCV) is an organization of male descendants of soldiers who served the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. SCV membership is open to all male descendants (lineal and collateral) of soldiers who fought for and honorably served the Confederate States of America. The SCV has a network of genealogists to assist applicants in tracing their ancestor's Confederate service. The SCV has programs at the local, state, and national levels for its members, such as marking Confederate soldiers' graves, historical re-enactments, scholarly publications, and regular meetings to discuss the military and political history of the American Civil War. Local units of the SCV are called "camps." The SCV also publishes books and other media, including the magazine Confederate Veteran. In recent years, the SCV has taken actions in furtherance of what it describes as "heritage defense" regarding references to the Confederacy and "the South" in U.S. history.