Chef’s Comments -Bernie Sampson

April-May 2008

In March of 1920, Joseph W. Breen, a member of the newly formed American Legion, met in Philadelphia with fifteen other prominent Legionnaires where they originated the idea of The Forty & Eight.  They envisioned a new and different level of elite membership and camaraderie for leaders of the American Legion.  The first statewide Forty & Eight Promenade was held in June, 1920.

Originally an arm, an honor society, of The American Legion, the Forty & Eight became an independent and separately incorporated veteran's organization in 1960.  The American Legion leadership has refused to recognize us as their “Elite Branch”, their “honor society”, since that time.  La Societe’s has made extraordinary efforts over the past half decade to regain the Legion’s favor. Our heritage and bond with the Legion …………our honor society status to the Legion even, has been, It seems, only important in  our own minds.   

Our membership is declining at a rapid rate.  We have not had so few members since the 1930’s.  If we don’t do something to change this downhill slide, our rich legacy of charity and patriotism will end.  There will be no Forty et Eight unless we have the courage & vision of our founders to save ourselves.  We are at a crossroads.  A decision must be made.  The question is ….are we up to the challenge of doing what is necessary to keep the Forty et Eight alive for future generations? 

A resolution is pending that will allow the nomination of any honorably discharged veteran or honorably serving member of the United States Armed Forces.  They will no longer be required to be a Legion member…..honorable veteran or active duty military status will be our only criteria.

Some more history……………..In the Summer of 1920 the new Forty & Eight organization sent a delegation to the Legion’s 2^nd national convention in Cleveland, Ohio. A railroad box car was rented and in it the Forty & Eight delegation rode the rails to the Cleveland Legion convention.  This publicity stunt gained substantial news coverage for the energetic new elite organization.  In Cleveland more than 700 Legionnaires became members of the Forty & Eight. What a membership drive huh?

Last year, Grande Voiture representatives came together and created a resolution that will expand the Forty et Eight’s available member search pool from 3 million honorably discharged and serving veterans to 23 million honorably discharged and serving veterans.

This will allow our Voyageurs, if they so choose, the ability to nominate any honorable active or discharged veteran for membership into La Societe.  How many of us know a veteran or active military person – a non-Legionnaire - who would make a great 40 & 8er?  You probably know dozens. And how about our newest young veterans?  Just as the founders of the American Legion and our Forty & Eight, they too, are returning home with a desire to help their fellow veterans. We need these young men and women.  They have much to offer the 40 & 8 and we, in turn have much to offer them.

.  A recent press release from the National Director of Internal Affairs at American Legion headquarters, written at the request of Legion National Commander  Marty Conatser. --  says “the 40 & 8 is a separate veteran's organization”. -- It says, La Societe is “a separate corporation from that of The American Legion” and therefore “there is no basis for the 40 & 8 to be an honor society of The American Legion.” -- It says, the Legion recognizes the Forty et Eight “the same as the VFW, DAV or any other similar organization.”

IN CLOSING

We need to carefully consider this new resolution and we need to adopt a more realistic view of our standing (or lack thereof) within the American Legion.  They are our heritage but since 1960, we have been separate organizations ………………We are legionnaires and we are Voyageurs.  Some of us are VFW, DAV or Marine Corps League members or members of the numerous other veteran organizations. 

La Societe’s honor does not come from these other organizations. La Societe’s honor stems from its own selectivity.  We each nominate individuals we deem worthy of becoming members and then each Voiture votes “oui” or “non” to select those whom they believe are the most honorable and deserving. The resolution doesn’t change this.  It does, however, allow us to look among greater numbers of honorable individuals, wherever they may exist.

We are all proud of our membership in the Legion just as we are very proud to be Voyageurs and just as we are proud of any other memberships we hold in the various Veteran organizations.  The bottom line here is….we are proud to be veterans.  We join these organizations to help other veterans, to help their families, to provide charitable work within our communities and with our children and youth.

We are only as honorable as the individuals we choose…and we are only as charitable as we have membership to do charity work.  We must live on if we are to continue the La Societe programs and work envisioned by our founding fathers in 1920.

March 2008

I know it’s been awhile since I’ve updated my comment’s but that has been for a reason. I wanted to get a feel on how the members of La Societe  felt on the proposed change to the constitution. In my travels around the states from California to Alabama and points in between, I’ve saw an overwhelming support for the change. Everyone has some kind of concerns but most feel that we have to make the change to save La Societe. Please if your locale has not discussed the proposed change please do so, but please keep an open mind do not go in with preconceived notions.

Voice your concerns and see if you can come up with other alternatives. I would like to include an email I received from Chef De Chemin De Fer 2003 John Degilio Jr. which says it all.

 Thoughts on the Resolution

Human nature is such that we become apprehensive and or fearful whenever someone suggests a modification or alternation of the status quo.  Some of us who place emphasis on “from whence we come” are reluctant to deviate from that foundation.  But even the framers of our great Constitution recognized that at certain rare times amendments would be needed and they provided for that process.

The foundation of any group or organization must be solid to bear the weight of that structure and to provide a long lasting base of support.  Our great association of combat-era veterans has understood that and has only changed its membership criteria twice since its inception.

Today we are at a crossroads.  Whichever road we take will significantly impact upon the future survivability of La Société des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux.  Even with the outstanding efforts of many highly dedicated voyageurs, our membership dwindles to levels not seen since the 1930s.  What are we to do?

As long as there is not a draft, we will never again experience the millions of Americans under arms.  With an all volunteer force, the numbers base from which the American Legion draws its membership, by definition, is contracted.   As we are currently experiencing, the same soldier goes through a number of rotations in the combat zone to make up for the smaller base.

Some may argue that we have not done a good enough job recruiting from the existing membership base of the American Legion.  This may be a valid point.  And if this point is valid, then why have we not done a good enough job, and what will make us do a better job?  The implication being that we are the same individuals and if we did not do it in the past, then why would it be expected that we would do it now?

What is even more troubling is that a very significant segment of our membership is comprised of our cherished World War II and Korean War veterans.  These voyageurs, mostly in their 80s can not be expected to continue to be the “hard chargers”.  This task should be assumed by our “younger” members.

I have always been proud of the fact that I come from a family whose father was a proud Legionnaire and even prouder Voyageur.  Having grownup in the Sons and then joining with my father in membership in the same post.  Following in his footsteps has always had a significant impact upon me especially in the Forty and Eight.

Every time a see a picture taken prior to World War II of the close relationship between the Forty and Eight and the American Legion I think of what could be now.  I long for those halcyon days when, as true comrades in arms, we would work together for the common good.  When we would once again wear chapeaus with our Legion uniforms and work unceasingly for the betterment of both organizations. 

But there are a handful of individuals who for some ungodly reason have power over the multitude of Legionnaires.  This I could never understand.  I fear that the millions of soldiers who trudged through the sand, mud, swamps and jungles, who flew in the air, and who sailed the seas to rid the world of despotic individuals have forgotten this once they took off their military uniforms.  Perhaps the concept of “one man, one vote” has no meaning in their organizational environment.

So what is the future?  Has the door been shut tight by the American Legion?  Are Legionnaires going to demand an open and frank discussion and vote on this matter?  Will we wait for time to resolve this issue?  Or must we take now the definitive action to preserve our future?

Is it ordained that we be like Caesar crossing the Rubicon or our founding fathers realizing that we can never go back to the way we were?  Or will Legionnaires rise to challenge the dogma trusted upon them?

We must chart a course that will enable us to survive and, hopefully, recapture the idealism and dedication of the first generation of voyageurs that gave birth to this great organization.  We must then ensure that we have the best and the most dedicated veterans who will carry the banner of the Forty and Eight ever so high as we march forward in the twenty-first century.

I’ll try to update this every month from now on. I want to thank Chef John for allowing me to use his words.

Yours in Service:

Bernie Sampson, Chef 2008

November 2007

On November 3-4^th a very important meeting was held in Indianapolis to determine the direction of La Societe in the years to come. I was pleased to see so many Grandes represented . Our efforts on that weekend may prove to be some of the most important decisions in La Societe’s history.

Every year our membership declines.  We are losing over 100 members a month to death.  Our current membership is at 38,000…..?  Efforts to resolve our differences with the American Legion Organization have proved one sided, with La Societe making all the concessions.  We have amended our constitution according to Legion demands and we even sent a formal apology for some offensive remarks allegedly made over 50 years ago.  Past Chef de Chemin de Fer, Terry Sims, worked with the Legion National Commander last year to develop a resolution that would open dialog between the two organizations.  At their National Convention, August 2007, the American Legion Organization “Rejected” the resolution from going to the floor for a vote by the body.  In addition, a past National Vice Commander made it clear that our 38,000 40/8 members were of no benefit to the American Legion.  Of NO BENEFIT!!  All Voyageurs are members of the American Legion.  Is the individual veteran that insignificant to the Legion?

So we were there that weekend to save ourselves from extinction. We were able to agree on a comprehensive resolution that recognizes our historical ties to the American Legion while opening eligibility to La Societe to all honorably discharged veterans; we hopefully not only saved La Societe, but will strengthen this great organization with the ability to invite any veteran that is deemed Voyageur material.

There were thirty eight Grands in attendance. The vote was 31 yea, 4 nay and two abstained with one Grande only having a past Chef de Chemin de Fer as a representative and not allowed to vote. The vote showed how the majority of the Grand’s feel on trying to save La Societe. The resoluation will be sent out to all locales and the Grand’s to be discussed and voted on at Promande Nationale 2008 in Orlando, FL...

It’s an exciting time for La Societe and I’m looking forward to watching the further growth of our great organization.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all who attended, most at their own expense. It was a task which regrettable had to be done. Thank you all for the effort and outcome.

Your’s for La Societe;

Bernie Sampson,

Chef de Chemin de Fer

September 2007

Well, Promanade Nationale is over and a new year is starting. Having been elected your Chef de Chemin de Fer, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who had the confidence in me for this great honor. Having reached 100% in membership last year was great but we still went down in our total number of members because of the non – renewals. This is our biggest problem. We wreck more people then we lose to deaths every year. This trend of not renewing our current members has to stop.

With the Legion’s rejection of the resolution to set up a three person committee from the Forty and Eight and the Legion to resolve our differences, it has left us with many decisions to make if our organization is to grow in the coming years. If you have not done so already, it’s imperative that your Grande contact Nationale and that you send a representative to the meeting on November 3 and 4, 2007. At the time of this writing 21 Grandes have signed up to attend.

Over the next year I’ll be touching on a variety of subjects in this column and in the Nationale paper. If I do not mention your name it’s because I don’t want to leave anyone out, if I do please forgive me.

Again thank you for the opportunity to lead this great organization.

Yours for La Societe:

Bernie Sampson,

Chef de Chemin de Fer