The History of La Societe
Forty and Eight
Did you know?
LaSociete - also better know as the "Forty and Eight" - is an independent fraternal organization of wartime veterans. Established in 1920 by members of The American Legion as a fun and HONOR Society, Forty and Eight's founders based the organization on their military experiences in WW1 in France. The BOX CAR of the French railways, which carried forty men (Quarante hommes) or eight horses (Huit chevaux) to the front lines, is the symbol of this organization. Titles and functions are in French for the organization. The numerals "40/8" on a triangle of French Horizon blue is the logo of La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux..... The Forty and Eight.
*** LEGACY OF CHARITY ***
Forty and Eight's CHILD WELFARE program was founded in 1923 to help children in physical distress. In the 1930's. the Forty and Eight lead a national effort to inoculate every child against Diphtheria, bearing the expense for thousands of destitute American children. Today, the Child Welfare program, in conjunction with the Charles W. Ardery Child Welfare Trust, expends more than $8,000.000 annually. Aid is coordinated by local Voitures of the Forty and Eight when local relief agencies are unable to move rapidly or cannot act. The program also supports childhood diabetes and cystic fibrosis research.
NURSES TRAINING - A CALL TO SERVE
Our NURSES TRAINING program, unique to our organization, was established in 1955 as a means of ensuring adequate numbers of skilled nurses for our nation in a time of war and peace. Augmented by the George B. Boland Nurses Scholarship Trust, the Forty and Eight Nurses Training program has graduated over 26,000 Registered Nurses with total program grants exceding $20,000,000.
******INVITATION ******
Please take time to read on further to explore this great veteran's organization known not to many of our veterans and their families.
Trumbull County Forty and Eight Locale # 1182 began here in 1938. Over the years, the Locale established a Home Association and purchased property along Eagle Creek Road here in the county. A building was constructed for the Chateau. This site was the home of the Locale for many years. It is not known, at this time, when this location was vacated. It had been sold years back. Today, we are proud to partner with the Ali Babba Grotto on Perkins Jones Road in Bazetta Township where we are proud to claim this location as a donated Chateau structure for our Promenades. As you can see, this Locale has a lot of history to be proud of. Although sold, the building, not in such good shape, still stands on the original property.
The organization has a headcover known as the French call it a "Chapeau". This design came from back in the early 1800's The cap is made in material very similar to the blue material of WWI French uniforms, and cut similar to French side caps of the period. Voyageurs (members of 40/8
wear a medal on the chapeau dating the history of the boxcar during WWI.
Trumbull County La Societe et Huit Chavaux
Locale # 1182 Chateau 1950
A walk back in history
Trumbull County Forty and Eight Locale # 1182. This website and its contents, text and images are the property of this organization and subject to all copyright laws. All rights reserved.