Today we'll be taking a look at a very unique, and virtually unknown and overlooked, WW1 medal. It is the WW1 75th Anniversary Commemorative Medal.
I picked this medal up in a thrift store down in Fort Bragg, California earlier this summer. The medal is complete, in its original issue box, and also included a small US American Legion, veteran's pin.
This commemorative medal was awarded to all US veterans of WW1 back in 1993. The medal was presented and awarded by the US Veteran's Administration, to all qualifying US WW1 Veterans. The Veterans Administration received and verified all of the requests for the medal and then arranged to have the medals presented. The award was first distributed on Sept.1, 1993, the 75 year anniversary of the end of WW1.
The Medal was commissioned by the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation of Chicago. Robert R. McCormick published the Chicago Tribune Newspaper for the the first half of the 20th century, and was a Colonel in the Artillery in WW1. The medal was designed by the US Army Institute of Heraldry and its distribution was assigned to the US Veterans Administration. The medal was issued in a presentation box, with a letter from the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation. Whenever possible, the medals were presented in person. They were intended for every living US WW1 Veteran.
Unfortunately, I do not know who the medal was presented to, but I am very confident that the medal was actually presented to a living WW1 veteran. An American Legion veteran's pin was included in the box, and I believe it came from the same veteran, but I can never be sure. This medal is a great addition to my collection of WW1 Victory Medals, and a very unique bit of WW1 history............ the end of an era. The last US, WW1 veteran has now passed away.
Here are a few photos of the medal, presentation case and American Legion pin:
I found one of these back in the late 90s at my middle school. I think someone brought it in for some kind of show and tell but lost it. Any way I can track them down? I live in the Chicago area. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThere is no way to know who the medal was issued to unless it has been inscribed or there is some other paperwork that was included with it. It would have been really wonderful if these medals had been inscribed with he veteran's name when they were issued, but they were not. They are also not official military issue, which makes it tough to document......... basically, if you were a WW1 veteran, you qualified to receive one when they were given out. Relatives of deceased WW1 veterans could request one as well.