Military Order of Foreign Wars
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The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States is the oldest veterans' and hereditary association in the Nation with a membership that includes both officers and their hereditary descendants from all the branches of the Armed Services.
The Order was founded on December 13, 1894 in the office of Frank M. Avery in the Tribune Building in New York City. The resultant Order was initially known as the Military and Naval Order of the United States and was organized and later incorporated under that name. Its hereditary line of descent spans the period of American history since national independence during the Revolutionary War. Initially membership in the Order was limited to officer veterans (and their hereditary descendants) of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Mexican War and for the first two years of its existence membership categories were limited to Veteran and Hereditary Companions. In April of 1895, the name of the Order was officially changed to its present name, The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States.
The influence of the Order spread rapidly and soon Commanderies were formed in other States. It was deemed advisable to form a National Commandery to centralize and coordinate the activities of the various State Commanderies, and which would have general supervision and control over the policies sand activities of the Order. The National Commandery was founded at a joint meeting of the individual State Commanderies in March of 1896.
In 1896 the membership category of Honorary Companion was created. President William McKinley, Admiral George Dewey, Lieutenant John J. Pershing (later General of the Armies), and Admiral John Wooten (of Monitor fame) were some of the earliest Honorary Companions. In 1928, a fourth membership status (Junior Companion) was created. In 1969, Companionship was extended to officer veterans and their descendants who served during a foreign war or expedition and to those who served in an enlisted status and were later commissioned.
The membership of the Order and the number of State Commanderies over the 100 years of the Order's existence has fluctuated typically increasing after the end of a war and declining during times of peace. The Order's stringent and high eligibility requirements make it difficult for the Order to recruit members in large numbers. However, this selectivity has enabled the Order to sustain itself for over 100 years because it continues to fill its ranks with individuals of the highest caliber, patriotism, loyalty, and character.
The motto of the Military Order of Foreign Wars is the Latin phrase, Deus et Libertas, God and Liberty.
The War and Navy Departments, and later the Department of Defense, under various resolutions of Congress, gave recognition to the Order and permitted the wearing of its insignia on uniforms.
[edit] Recent Commanders-General
- Colonel Richard H. Love (1977-1979)
- Major General James C. McElroy (1987-1989)
- Commander Thomas F. Wiener (1989-1991)
- Colonel Versel Case, Jr. (1995-1997)
- Lieutenant Colonel Ronald R. Sommer (1997-1999)
- Colonel Joseph P. Kirlin (1999-2001)
- Captain Ronald E. Fischer (2001-2003)
- Major General John J. Salesses (2003-2005)
The listing above is incomplete.
