Steve Bartos told us that this is second time at a Rotary meeting. About 62 years ago he attended a Rotary luncheon with a friend and today he has made it a second time for a Rotary luncheon. Steve worked for the Department of Roads (today it is the Department of Transportation) for about 45+ years. Steve is very active in the American Legion. He told us about the "Forty and Eight."
The titles and symbols of The Forty and Eight are derived from the experiences of U.S. troops during World War I. Americans soldiers were transported to the front on the French rail system. Cramped into narrow gauge boxcars, each stenciled with “40 Hommes/8 Chevaux”, denoting its capacity to hold either 40 men or 8 horses. This uncomfortable mode of transportation was familiar common experience for every Doughboy that fought in the trenches; a mutual small misery among American soldiers. Thereafter, they found “40/8” a lighthearted symbol of the deeper service, unspoken horrors and shared sacrifice that bind all who have endured combat.
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 honorably discharged veterans and honorably serving members of the United States Armed Forces.
La Société des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux (The Society of Forty Men and Eight Horses), is an independent, invitation only, honor society of American veterans and service members; more commonly known as The Forty and Eight.
The Forty and Eight is committed to charitable and patriotic aims. Our purpose is to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States, to promote the well-being of veterans, their widows, widowers and orphans, and to actively participate in selected charitable endeavors, which include programs that promote child welfare and nurses training.
Steve told us more about the Nurses Training Program. In 1985 Volture Nationale formally established a Nurses Training Program and challenged each Locale and Grande to establish a Nurses Training Program at their level. The two scholarships that the Lincoln Chapter established goes to Bryan Health Nursing School or the Southeast Community College Nursing Program. In October they start raffling off tickets and the money from the Raffle goes toward the Scholarships.
We were told that during the Covid-19, Nursing is a very important part of our health care system. The National Nurses Association estimates by the year 2028, we will need 37,000 more nurses in our health care system. The 40 & 8 Nurses Training Scholarship Program can help assist in filling this shortage of the health care system, with the different scholarships available within our 40 & 8 Nurses Training Scholarship Program.
Steve said that what the 40 & 8 in Lincoln likes to do is partner with different organizations to help them raise funds for their scholarships. Thank you Steve for sharing what 40 & 8 is all about and the help they give toward Nursing in our community and health system.