Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Patriotic Societies

PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES, organizations fostering devotion to country by the commemoration of events in the establishment of the country's freedom and the preservation of traditions, and the restoration of historic sites and scenes. In the United States the greater number of the societies are divided between those whose origin goes back to the Revolutionary War and those originating in the Civil War. Other societies go back to the Colonial period and these are the earliest. The Society of Mayflower Descendants, Society of the Ark and Dove, Society of Colonial Wars, Society of Colonial Dames of America, Order of the Founders and Patriots of America, National Society of Scions of Colonial Cavaliers, National Society of Colonial Dames, Society of Daughters and Patriots of America, Order of Washington, Order of Pequot and King Phillip are other societies devoted to the Colonial period.

The Society of the Cincinnati is one of the organizations going back to the wars which freed the United States from British control, membership being confined to the descendants of officers who served in the Continental army for at least three years. Other societies relating to the Revolutionary period are: Sons of Revolutionary Sires, Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, Naval Order of the United States, Military Order of Foreign Wars, Saint Nicholas Society of New York. Later organizations are the General Society of the War of 1812, Veteran Corps of Artillery, American Order of the Louisiana, Aztec Club, Association of Mexican Veterans, Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, Society of Dames of the Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution, Children of the American Revolution, Society of the United States, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Daughters of 1812.

The Military Order of the Loyal Legion is conspicuous among the societies relating to the Civil War, being modeled on the Society of the Cincinnati. Other Civil War organizations are: Grand Army of the Republic, Union Society of the Civil War, Union Veteran Legion, Sons of Veterans, Union Society of the Civil War, Society of the Army of Cumberland, Society of the Army of the Potomac, Society of the Army of Tennessee, Eleventh Army Corps Association, Second Army Corps Association, Thirteenth Army Corps Association, Union Society of the Civil War, Military Order of the Medal of Honor, National Association of Naval Veterans, Medal of Honor Legion, United Confederate Veterans, United Daughters of the Confederacy, United Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Before the war with Spain the Order of the Indian Wars and the Society of Veterans of Indian Wars were established. The Spanish War gave birth to the Naval and Military Order of the Spanish-American War, United Spanish War Veterans, Rough Riders' Association and others. Societies of a similar character are the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association and the like.

The World War has likewise seen the formation of many societies, such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. The number of these societies is on the increase.