The National tribune., 1902-11-13
SOMETHING ABOUT BADGES
The q. A. r. Badge, Its Meaning and
Method Of Manufacture - Beautiful
Badges of Other Organizations.

baogeS OF Other Organizations.
In this day and age there are no Nav
ericks. Everybody is branded. Not with
a hot iron, as in the days of the slave pen,
nor is the brand at any time a mark of
servitude. Some times it is just a tiny
bow of narrowest white ribbon half hid
den amidst frills and laces; but it means
a whole lot. In its white silk threads is
woven the history of the Temperance
cause. Everybody recognizes the silver
cross of the Kings Daughters, and the
monogram &c. f." tells the history of q
worldwide organization.
Indeed the craze for brands has gone
so far now, that Margaret and Minnie ad-
vertlse their names in the pin at their
throats, the initials on the instep of their
stockings, and embroidered or set in silver
on the ends Of, their flowing ties. The
railroad man wears a tiny lantern, the
printer stick" the carpenter a saw;
the stOnemasmI q hammer; q tiny anvil
swings from the watch chain of a black
smith; the miner supports q pick; the
golfer putting" club; the tennis fiend
tiny racquet, aaid so it goes. Some place
about the person every man and woman
displays the SIGN Of his calling or profess
sion or his particular fad.
So 1t comes about that the study of
'badgeology" has become an exact science,
and in great National meetings he who
knows his lesson well may read as he
runs the history Of the people who pass
him. This wasaexemplified at the recent
National Encampment of the Grand AIRY
of the Republic in Washington.
One meets many badges, hundreds of
varieties lat National Encampment, and
each one has its peculiar meaning First
nf II bo bod 49, tbo
of the Republic. 1t was once very well
known, but since the little bronze recog
milton button became popular, the larger
badge Is seldom seen. The bar-pin spread
eagle and the bronze star pendant from
little specially woven silk flag, are made
from the metal of rebel cannon captured in
decisive battles. There is whole history
done up in those bits of bronze. In 1870
the present design, as arranged by Col
+. A. Starring, Inspector General of the
Grand Army, was adopted. 1t is officially
described as follows:
''The obverse-In the center of the
badge is the figure of the Goddess of Lib
erty, representing Loyalty; on either side
soldier and sailor clasping hands, rep
resenting Fraternity, and two children re-
ceiving benedictiOn and assurance Of pro-
lection from the comrades, representing
Charity. On each side of the group is the
National Flag and the Eagle, representing
L fTeeuOHl, ana tne AK, or bundle OF RODS,
or Fasces, representing Union"
The foregoing forms the bronze recog-
milton button.
'In each point of the star of which this
medallion is the center is the insignia of
the various arms of the service; viz, the
bugle for infantry, cross cannon for artil-
lery, cross muskets for the marine, cross
swords for cavalry, and the anchor for
sailors. On the central group are the
words, Grand Army Of the Republic and
under the word and figures, 1S61-Vet-
eran-1S66,' cOmmemorating the COM
mencement and close of the rebellion, and
also the date of organization of the Or
der.
'"rhe reverse side-represents a branch
ward Of the brave, and the emblems
Of Sheridan's and Wilson's Cavalry
Corps and Of Hancock's First Veteran
Corps in the other three points. In
the center is the National Shield, surround
ed by the "a recognized corps badges, num-
erically arranged, each on a keystone, and
all linked together, showing they are
united, and will guard and protect the
shield Of the Nation. Around these is
circle of stars, representing the States of
the Union and the Departments compos-
ing the Grand Army of the Republic.
'"The clasp is composed of the figure of
an Eagle, with cross cannon and ammuni-
drawn sword lowering over and always
ready to protect from insult or dishonor
the National Flag. On the reverse of the
clasp is a campfire scene."
The Eagle as first placed upon the
badge was a fac simile of the eagle on the
be presented for Individual acts of bravery
In 1880, under Commander-in-Chief Earn
shaw, a change was made to a more SYM
metrical eagle.
The ribbon for the membership badge
has always been the flag, hanging down
with the field tnrned toward the right
shoulder. In 1887 the flag of the member
ship badge was Incorporated with the Off
cial ribbon, the combination being most
pleasing. The Gag for local or Post Off
GERS has an eighth of an inch border of
blue; for the Department the border is red
and for the National, yellow.
The rank strap of the badge is worn
as the pin bar during the term of office.
After that the seagle goes to the top of
the badge again and the rank strap is
fastened across the ribbon.
MAKING THE BADGE.
The manner in which the badge of the
Grand Army of the Republic is made is
quite interesting. The cannon of which
the badges are composed is purchased di-
rectly from the Government and selected
from captured guns stored at Governors
Island. Those guns were made by Noble
Bros, Of Rome, Ga; Quimby & Robinson,
Memphis; John Clark, New Orleans, and
A. B. r. Bros, Vicksburg. Three of those
purchased are Of English make, being bet
ter finished and free from iron or lead.
To prepare this metal for the manufac-
ture Of badges. the gun is first put in a
lathe and cut In sections. These pieces
are melted and made into small pigs, and
again re-melted and refined to remove iron
| or lead. the presence of which is source
Of much trouble. Twenty per cent. of
copper and sine Is then added to reduce
tho haaaHd - hIoa ka in tho Suhsaouent