Four (4) Grand Army of the Republic National Encampment badges, commemorating the 77th National Encampment, held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1943, the 78th National Encampment, held in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1944, the 80th National Encampment, held in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1946, and the 81st National Encampment, held in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1947. 

1. Two-piece bronze metal badge with gold silk ribbon. 2 1/8" x 5 7/8". Top bar is a representation of the membership eagle; suspended pendant bears an image of John Simon Dumser (1847 - 1949) with the legend: "Commander in Chief / John S. Dumser." Ribbon is inscribed below: "Representative / 77th National Encampment / Grand Army of the Republic / Milwaukee, Wis. Sept. 19 - 24 1943." 

2. Two-piece bronze metal badge with gold silk ribbon. 2" x 6 3/8". Top bar is a representation of the membership eagle; suspended pendant bears an image of George Henry Jones (1849 - 1946) with the legend: "Commander in Chief / George H. Jones." Ribbon inscribed below: "Representative / 78th National Encampment / Grand Army of the Republic / Des Moines, Ia. Sept. 10 - 15 1944." 

3. Two-piece bronze metal badge with dark yellow silk ribbon. 2" x 6 1/4". Top bar is a representation of the membership eagle; suspended pendant bears an image of Hiram Randall Gale (1846 - 1951) with the legend: "Commander in Chief / Hiram R. Gale". Ribbon inscribed below: "80th National Encampment / G.A.R. / Indianapolis, Ind. / August 1946." 

4. Two-piece bronze metal badge with dark yellow silk ribbon. 2 1/8" x 6". Top bar is a representation of the membership eagle; suspended pendant bears an image of John Henry Grate (1845 - 1949) with the legend: "Commander in Chief / John H. Grate." Ribbon inscribed below: "81st National Encampment / G.A.R. / Cleveland, Ohio / August 10-14 1947." 

By the 1940s, the number of living G.A.R. members, particularly those willing and able to attend the National Encampment, had dramatically declined. Between the years of 1907 and 1945, National Encampment badges bore the standardized title "Representative," after which the designations were done away with altogether. It is therefore impossible to discern the rank held within the organization by the awardee of any of these badges.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Ephemera, Medals, Badges] [Veterans, Veterans’ Organizations, Fraternal Organizations] [GAR, Grand Army of the Republic]