Officially known as La Boutique Des Huit Chapeaux Et Quarante Femmes
Departemental de Texas Salon #32.
Originally formed to be a place for fun and fellowship for Auxiliary members
but with no specific program, it wasn’t long before the 8 & 40 asked to be
recognized as a sister organization of the ALA and chose a specific cause of
our own, children in medical need.
The 8 & 40 has had a Texas Charter for 81 years. We are a group of dedicated
American Legion Auxiliary members who have looked beyond the programs of the
ALA to dedicate ourselves to children’s welfare, specifically children with
Cystic Fibrosis, tuberculosis and the many other respiratory illnesses still
plaguing children today. Among our many programs the two most well known and
critical are nurses scholarship and the American Legion Child Welfare Fund.
Partners are invited to join the 8 & 40. Requirement
for Partnership are 36 months of active ALA membership. The emblem is
similar in shape to the Auxiliary adding a lug to the bottom. Our colors are
red, blue and white.
The blue stands for FRIENDSHIP.
We have heard very little about the friendship of women.
We know it exists and we have the chance in Eight and Forty to show
ourselves and others what the friendship of women can be and be loyal and
true to each other.
The red of our emblem stands for GOOD
FELLOWSHIP
and that is what we
are trying to do in the Eight and Forty, to develop the friendships started
in the Auxiliary and to forget our differences and to learn to appreciate
each others’ good qualities.
Then, last but not least, is the white
background of our emblem which stands for CHILD WELFARE.
It is such a wonderful thing to be able to work for a little child
and to take up the task laid down by so many of our service men and women
when they gave up their lives for our country.
This is a sacred privilege to us and makes us interested in all
little children who are needy in a material or moral way.
While our organization has departed from the over-all child welfare
program of its early days, we have now specifically turned our efforts to
children with Tuberculosis, Cystic Fibrosis, lung and other respiratory
diseases. So, let us be proud of
our partnership in Eight and Forty and glad of the privilege of living up to
its high ideals and carrying on its work.
The motto of the 8 & 40 is ……
In Fun, Fellowship and Service