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 After Treatment |
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The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States |
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| With the death of President Lincoln on April 15, 1865, rumors spread throughout Washington of a larger conspiracy to assassinate other officials leading to the overthrow of the Federal government.(29) Three officers who formed the guard of honor when the President's body arrived at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, on its way to Springfield, Illinois, pledged unswerving loyalty to the Union and the ideals the President stood for. Together they formed "The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States", or M.O.L.L.U.S., and set the day of Lincoln's death as its founding day. | |||||
| Its first meeting was held at Independence Hall on April 20, 1865. Membership was limited to commissioned officers of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Male descendants of officers could also become members. Members would be called "Companions." State Commanderies spread throughout the Union and by 1898, the Loyal Legion had over 8,000 members. Prominent original Companions included Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, Benjamin Harrison and William McKinley. The organization is still in existence today. | |||||
| Fairchild was elected a Companion of the Loyal Legion by the Wisconsin Commandery in 1882. In 1884, he was elected to the state's Commander position, an office he held until 1887. He went on to serve as national Commander-in-Chief of the Order from 1893 to 1895. Medal #4 is his Military Order of the Loyal Legion badge. | |||||
 Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States Badge |
 Original M.O.L.L.U.S. Badge |
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| The above images represent Sargent's painted image and an original M.O.L.L.U.S. medal. While not Fairchild's original, it offers a reasonable view of what Sargent was looking at.(30) Once again it was not the details of the medal that interested the artist but rather its spirit. | |||||
| Footnotes | |||||
| (29) Information and select phrases on the history of The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States drawn from the informative and comprehensive web site, suvcw.org. | |||||
| (30) It may have been that Fairchild's original medal was enhanced to some degree due to his position as Commander of the Wisconsin Commandery. For this reason the above medal may date from 1884, the year he was elected to the state Commander position. His election as national Commander -in-Chief in 1893 took place after the painting was completed. | |||||
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Barry Bauman Conservation |
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