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Court Bradbury
Grand Chef de Gare du California
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What is the Forty and Eight?

The Forty & Eight is committed to charitable and patriotic aims. Our purpose is to uphold and defend the United States Constitution, to promote the well being of veterans and their widows and orphans, and to actively participate in selected charitable endeavors, which include programs that promote child welfare and nurse's training.

The titles and symbols of the Forty & Eight reflect its First World War origins. Americans were transported to the battle front on French trains within boxcars stenciled with a “40/8”, denoting its capacity to hold either forty men or eight horses. This uncomfortable mode of transportation was familiar to all who fought in the trenches; a common small misery among American soldiers who thereafter found “40/8” a lighthearted symbol of the deeper service, sacrifice and unspoken horrors of war that bind all who have borne the battle.

The Forty & Eight was founded in 1920 by American veterans returning from France. Originally an arm of The American Legion, the Forty & Eight became an independent and separately incorporated veteran's organization in 1960. Membership is by invitation of ALL honorably discharged veterans and honorably serving members of the United States Armed Forces.
Recent articles of the Grande & Locale Voitures
  1. Locale Voiture Wrecks
  2. New tax law will affect most Voitures
  3. News from the Locale Voitures
  4. Pictorial Album of the Chef de Gare

89th Promenade Nationale - Orlando, FL
September 2-6, 2008
Grand Promenade, San Diego
July 18-20, 2008
Grand Cheminot, Sacramento
February 16-17, 2008
Chapeau Update:

Carl Asher has told us "the price for chapeau's was increasing to $33.50 ea and $0.95 per letter embroidery 1 Jan 09.  In addition to the $33.50 + .95, shipping for 1 chapeau is 9.00 plus 3.50 for drop ship charge. Total it all up for an issue Calif. chapeau and you are looking close to $60.00.: 33.50 + 3.50 + 9.00 + 11-12 X .95 {10.45 or 11.40} (depending on a 3 or 4 numerical Voiture number)."

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Updated May 9th, 2009

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