Membership badge The Hebrew Veterans of the War with Spain

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2023

The scarce pinback has a 1-3/4" spread winged eagle, to which is a 2", two sided American flag. It from the flag that the actual medal is dangled. The six star medal, 1-3/4" has a 1" diameter bronze disc showing a soldier and a sailor with "1898" behind them. On the out ring, "Hebrew Veterans War With Spain". The ribbon shows wear, all else is very good.The Hebrew Veterans of the War with Spain was an early precursor to the Jewish War Veterans organization. Founded at the conclusion of the Spanish American War in 1900, the organization was the "junior partner" of the Hebrew Union Veterans Association with which it eventually merged. Then, in 1920, following World War One, it became the Hebrew Veterans of the Wars of the Republic, in 1924 the Jewish Veterans of the Wars of the Republic, and finally in 1927 the Jewish War Veterans of the United States. One of the early founders of the organization was Maurice Simmons who also served as New York State Commander and National Commander of the United Spanish War Veterans.The membership badge, which was also depicted on the membership card, closely resembled the badges issued by the United Spanish War Veterans, incorporating the motifs of eagles, shields, and an American flag suspension ribbon. The dramatic difference, however, was that the United Spanish War Veterans membership medal had a Greek Cross suspended from the ribbon with each arm of the cross bearing the words Cuba, Porto Rico, Philippine Islands, and USA respectively with the four compass directions on the reverse. The membership badge of the Hebrew Veterans of the War with Spain incorporated nearly identical elements with the exception that the pendant is a six-pointed star (resembling the Star of David) instead of the cross. Each point of the star depicts a branch of the military; infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineers, signal corps, and navy. It is suspended from a brooch depicting the American eagle with the shield of the United States and arrows and olive branches in its talons. The suspension ribbon is a thirteen star American flag. The medallion has the name of the organization and depicts two veterans, one with a rifle and one with the sword, greeting one another and the year 1898. This badge is an excellent example of how Jewish veterans incorporated their pride in having served their country into a uniquely Jewish object that reflected their identity as Jews.A rare badge in excellent original condition rarely seen at auction.Reference: The Shekel, Vol. 41, no. 2, March-April 2008

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