La Societe des Quarante Hommmes et Huit Chevaux
is an independent, by invitation,
honor
organization of U. S. Veterans, more commonly known as the
Forty and Eight.
The Forty and Eight is committed to the 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 nurse's training.
The titles and symbols of the Forty and Eight reflect its
First World War origins. Americans were
transported to the battle front on French trains within box
cars 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 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 ha borne the battle.
The Forty and Eight was founded in 1920 by American Veterans
returning from France. Originally an
arm of the American Legion, the Forty and 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
FROM THE FORTY & EIGHT