LA SOCIETE DES 40 HOMMES ET 8 CHEVAUX
(The Society of 40 Men & 8 Horses)
Who are we?
La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux is an independent, by invitation, honor organization of male and female U. S. veterans, more commonly known as the Forty & Eight.
The Forty & Eight is committed to charitable and patriotic aims. Our purpose is to uphold and defend the United States Constitution, to promote the well being of veterans and their widows and orphans, and to actively participate in selected charitable endeavors, which include programs that promote Child Welfare and Nurses training.
The titles and symbols of the Forty & Eight reflect its First World War origins. Americans were transported to the battle front on French trains within boxcars stenciled with a “40/8” denoting its capacity to hold either forty men or eight horses. This uncomfortable mode of transportation was familiar to all who fought in the trenches; a common small misery among American soldiers who thereafter found “40/8” a light-hearted symbol of the deeper service, sacrifice and unspoken horrors of war that bind all who have borne the battle.
The Forty & Eight was founded in 1920 by American veterans returning from France. Originally an arm of The American Legion, the Forty & Eight became an independent and separately incorporated veteran’s organization in 1960. Membership is by invitation of honorably discharged veterans and honorably serving members of the United States Armed Forces.
Legacy of Charity
The Forty & Eight’s Child Welfare program was founded in 1923. In the 1930’s, we lead a national effort to inoculate every American child against diphtheria. Other long-standing charitable programs of the Forty & Eight include the:
§ Ardery Child Welfare Trust,
§ Nurses Training Program that has graduated over 30,000 nurses,
§ Boland Scholarship Trust,
§ Carville Medical Research Program, o Veterans Voluntary Service,
§ Youth Sports Program
§ Americanism Program,
§ Flags for 1st Graders Program, and o POW/MIA Scholarship Program
Many Forty & Eight units (Voitures) have Parade Trains and Hobo Clowns that delight children and promote patriotism.
The Forty & Eight has recently championed The Military Chaplain’s Fund that provides clothes and necessities for Armed Forces members injured in Afghanistan and Iraq.
40 & 8 PROGRAMS
Child Welfare
The Voyageurs Militaire (Military Travelers) founded a Child Welfare Program in 1923 to ease the pain and suffering of those children whose fathers never returned or who were unable to care for their needs after the “Big War.” Today, this program has grown to include all children with emergent needs, and our efforts amount to over eight million dollars annually.
Youth Sports
The Youth Sports Program was established in 1994. Through this program, the 40/8 provides financial assistance in the form of grants to individual athletes or teams who lack the funds required to attend and participate in amateur sports programs. This program encompasses all amateur sports programs for all youths from 7 to 20 years of age.
Nurses Training
In 1955, the Voyageurs Militaire, recognizing the shortage of Registered Nurses, adopted a program to provide financial assistance, in the form of scholarships, to those individuals who enrolled for this training. With 2,131 students receiving over si,ioo,000 in scholarships this past year, the Forty & Eight has granted in excess of $35,000,000 and graduated over 35,000 Registered Nurses since the inception of this program.
Carville Star
As one of their ongoing programs, the Voyageurs Militaire offer continuing support of the publication, “The Carville Star,” this disseminates the information regarding the research into Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy) taking place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There they have been successful in isolating, controlling and soon, through their research, the development of a vaccine to prevent Hansen’s disease. “The Star” is published at Greenfield, Indiana. This patient- published publication carries the research works of not only this center, but those of the rest of the world, and is translated into and forwarded to 128 countries in addition to a circulation of more than 60,000 in the United States.
Americanism
By virtue of being veterans who have served their country in its time of greatest need, the fun-loving, hard-working Voyageurs Militaire maintains a strong commitment to the American way of life. Americanism projects, respect for the flag, Constitution, Law and Order and the proven willingness to defend these principles is evident in the day-to-day activities of members of our society.
Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS)
The Forty & Eight, as are most Veterans Organizations, is an active member and participant in the VAVS program. As part of this program, Voyageurs (called Deputy Representatives) visit the Veteran Administration Medical Centers on a regular basis, where they give comfort and assistance to, or just visit with, the hospitalized veterans. The Forty & Eight has adopted an additional program for these veterans, called “Keep Those Wheelchairs Rolling.” Under this program, the VAVS Representative writes a brief letter outlining a “need” of the patients. These “needs” may cover a project, equipment or comfort and convenience items needed by the hospitalized veterans. The entries are then judged on the need and benefit to the patients, and those selected receive the item(s) requested, courtesy of the National Box Car Association.
National Box Car Association
The National Box Car Association (NBCA) is an independent association within the Forty & Eight which raises funds by selling Crew or Associate Membership Cards. All funds raised by the Association are used within the year they are obtained. The National Box Car Association supports several special projects at Promenade Nationale (National Convention). Each year, a party for special children is planned at the host city. These special children and their escorts are treated to lunch, train rides and entertainment provided by HOBO Clowns and bands. The entire cost of this party is paid by the NBCA from the funds collected in their annual membership drive. Another project at Promenade Nationale is a monetary donation made to the local VAVS Hospital or Clinic. This contribution usually goes to the Patient Services area. The NBCA also contributes large amounts to the various programs of Voiture Nationale (National Headquarters), such as the Boland Nurses Training Trust Fund and the Charles Ardery Child Welfare Trust Fund. Monies are also given to the other programs which my require assistance, such as the Membership Committee, Forty & Eighter Magazine, Law Officer of the Year Program and many others.
POW/MIA Program
The purpose of the National POW/MIA Program is to raise funds in Honor of the Servicemen & Women who were Prisoners of War, or are considered Missing in Action while serving in the defense of the United States of America, or its allies during times of armed conflict. The funds are raised to facilitate the formation and continuance of a Scholarship Trust Fund for the direct descendants of verifiable POW/MIA Servicemen and Women. Scholarships are limited to the Veteran, the Spouse of the veterans, children, and grandchildren of the veteran.
National Special Awards Program
Each year Voiture Nationale of the 40/8 recognizes special people and Cities or Towns from around the Nation. These awardees are selected and nominated by Local Voiture’s. National Awardees in each category are:
HERO OF THE YEAR
The Hero of the Year award was adopted by La Societe during 1991. The purpose of the award is to recognize and pay tribute to a person whom, without hesitation or regard for their own safety, did demonstrate an unselfish desire to aid others. The 40/8 feels it is of paramount importance to recognize and respect those who perform a heroic deed.
VOYAGEUR OF THE YEAR
The Voyageur of the Year was adopted by La Societe during 2001. The purpose of this award is to recognize and honor Voyageurs who have performed outstanding service to La Societe. This service can be for something done for a particular program. Nurses Training, Child Welfare, Americanism or any of our named programs or for La Societe in general.
LAW OFFICER OF THE YEAR
The Law officer of the Year award has been in existence for some time and has been well received by the Membership. The purpose of this award is to recognize and pay tribute to a Law Enforcement Officer who has done an outstanding job of performing his or her duties at the level of his employment, both past and present. Candidates for this award may be obtained by seeking recommendations from the agency chief executive (Superintendent, Sheriff, Chief, etc.) or directly by the Voiture Locale.
CITY OR TOWN OF THE YEAR
The City or Town of the Year was adopted by La Societe during 2001. The purpose of this award is to recognize and honor a City or Town which has and/or is doing something significant for veterans in that City or Town. There are many cities and towns that meet this requirement. These cities and towns should be recognized and given publicity at all levels; Locale, Grande and Nationale This recognition, hopefully, will encourage other cities and towns to do more for Veterans.
(additional information is available at: fortyandeight.org)