La Societe des Quarante Homes et Huit Chevaux

La Societe – also known as the Forty & Eight is a charitable non-profit independent fraternal
organization of Veterans, established in 1920 by members of the American Legion as an honor
society. The Founders based the organization on their military experiences in WW1 France, such
as the tiny French Box Car of the French railway, which carried “dough boys” to the front lines.
Each box car could carry forty men (Quarante hommes) or eight horses (Huit Chevaux) to the
front. The French box car with a 40/8 emblem attached is the symbol of the Forty & Eight. All
Officers have titles with French Railroad terminology.

Forty & Eight Child Welfare programs founded in 1923 has helped thousands of children whose
fathers did not come home from the war. We have many trust funds helping children of all ages,
Child Welfare Fund, Nurses Training Fund, Youth Sports Fund and School Scholarships Fund.
Adults are assisted with Diabetes, Cystic Fibrosis, Hanson’s Disease research (leprosy) to name a
few programs. Our number one program today is Nurses Training where we help sponsor 10
nurses in training at Modesto College preferably with a Military Family background.