AVON AMERICAN LEGION POST 145

HENDRICK COUNTY 

FORTY AND EIGHT

40 & 8 NATIONAL

La Societe des Quarante Hommes at Huit Chevaux Locale Voiture 1390

La Societe des Quarante Hommes at Huit Chevaux is an independent, by invitation, organization of honorable discharged veterans and currently serving U. S. Military Personnel, more commonly known as the Forty and 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 nurse’s training.

The titles and symbols of the Forty & Eight reflect its First World War origins. American servicemen in France Were transported to the battle front on narrow Gauge French railroads (Chemin de Fer) inside boxcars (Voitures) that were Half the size of American boxcars.  Each French boxcar was stenciled with a “40/8”, denoting its capacity to hold either forty men or eight horses/mules. This is ignominious and uncomfortable mode of transportation was familiar To all who traveled from the coast to the trenches; a common small misery Among American soldiers who thereafter found “40/8” a lighthearted symbol of The deeper service, sacrifice and unspoken horrors of war that truly bind those Who have borne the battle.

The Forty and Eight was formed in 1920 by American veterans of the American Legion as an honor society.  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.

Visit http://www.fortyandeight.org for more online details.

Voiture 1390 meets each month on the 1st Monday

at the American Legion Post 331

636 East Main Street, Brownsburg, In.

2015-2016 Officers of the Forty and Eight Voiture 1390