Military Order of Foreign Wars History

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 officers and their hereditary descendants from all of the Armed Services.

The history of the Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States dates from a meeting of distinguished patriots who assembled on December 13, 1894 in the office of the Honorable Frank M. Avery in the Tribune Building in New York City. As a result, the Military and Naval Order of the United States was organized and later incorporated under that name. Its hereditary line of descent spans the period of American history since national independence. Membership in the Order was originally limited to veterans (and their hereditary descendants) of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Mexican War. Until 1896, 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 motto of the Military Order of Foreign Wars is Deus et Libertas - God and Liberty.

In 1896 the membership category of Honorary Companion was created. President William McKinnley, Admiral George Dewey, then Lieutenant John J. Pershing, 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 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 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.

The influence of the Order spread rapidly and soon Commanderies were formed in other States. It was deemed advisable to form a National Commandery which would 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.

The total membership of the Order and the number of State Commanderies over the 100 years of the Order's existence has ebbed and flowed with our Nation's armed conflicts, increasing shortly after the end of a war and declining during the ensuing era of peace. The Order's stringent and high eligibility requirements makes 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.