http://illfortyandeight.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/new-address.pdf

Locale News

Effingham County 40 & 8 News Release-

Effingham County: For the 40 & 8 of Effingham Co. March and April are important months. The members of the 40 & 8 make their annual visit to Effingham County First Grade classrooms for their “Flags for First Graders” program. The members traveled to 10 area grades schools that included: Altamont, Beecher City, Dieterich, Effingham, Sigel and Teutopolis. The purpose of their visits to the schools is talk to the students about the Colors of the Flag, Flag etiquette, Flag Day and even which star belongs to Illinois. Then after the presentations, the students receive their own 3” x 5” U.S. Flag and base.

The 40 & 8ers enjoy visiting the students and the students are happy to visit with the members. The members of the 40 & 8 are veterans of all of the Armed Forces and have served in various eras. This year the Voyageurs were able to present almost 500 plus flags and bases.

This year the 40 & 8 received some assistance with the flag bases which were donated by Effingham Builders Supply.

The reason the organization is called the 40 & 8 is because during World War I, U.S. forces traveled in railroad boxcars in France. The boxcars transported either 40 troops or eight horses.

The 40 & 8 members are called Voyageur (traveler) or Voyageurs Militaire (military travelers).

This is to honor their journeys in the armed forces. Their post is called Voiture or Boxcar. Effingham Co. 40 & 8 was chartered in 1952 and has been participating in the “Flags for First Graders” program since 1992.