The Missouri Association of Veterans Organizations (MAVO) extends its sincere appreciation to La Société des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux — The Forty and Eight for their annual sponsorship of the MAVO website. Your continued support strengthens our shared mission to protect and advance the rights, benefits, and well‑being of Missouri’s veterans, service members, and their families.

Who the Forty and Eight Are

The Forty and Eight is an independent, invitation‑only honor society of American veterans, founded in 1920 by World War I veteran Joseph W. Breen and fellow Legionnaires in Philadelphia. The Forty and Eight Wikipedia

The organization’s identity comes from the French WWI boxcars marked "40 Hommes / 8 Chevaux” — capable of carrying 40 men or 8 horses — which transported American troops to the front. These cramped boxcars became a symbol of shared hardship, camaraderie, and sacrifice among U.S. soldiers. The Forty and Eight

Today, the Forty and Eight continues its long tradition of:

• Upholding and defending the U.S. Constitution
• Supporting veterans, widows, widowers, and orphans
• Funding nurses’ training and child welfare programs
• Promoting Americanism and community service
  The Forty and Eight The Forty and Eight

Membership remains by invitation and is open to honorably discharged veterans and currently serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Wikipedia

How the Forty and Eight’s Sponsorship Strengthens MAVO’s Advocacy

The Forty and Eight’s sponsorship of the MAVO website directly enhances statewide veteran advocacy by enabling MAVO to:

• Provide timely legislative updates on issues affecting Missouri veterans at both the state and federal levels.
• Coordinate unified action among Missouri’s congressionally chartered VSOs, ensuring lawmakers hear a strong, consistent message.
• Expand outreach and education, helping veterans and families understand their benefits, rights, and emerging policy threats.
• Increase transparency and accessibility, making MAVO the central hub for veteran‑related legislative information in Missouri.
• Support digital modernization, ensuring MAVO’s online presence remains reliable, secure, and easy to navigate for veterans of all generations.

By supporting MAVO’s digital infrastructure, the Forty and Eight helps ensure that Missouri’s veterans always have a powerful, unified voice in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C.