An excellent example of an elaborate medal, both in mint condition and with its original white cardboard box, both numbered “B 67079.” The upper pinback bar has an eagle landing on a US shield surrounded by a wreath. From this is suspended by a US flag ribbon a panoply of arms- crossed rifle, saber, cannon and anchor, and from this a medal in the form of a cros with CUBA in the top center, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS in the left arm, and PORTO RICO in the right, all in raised letters. “UNITED” appears in a banner scroll amid the crossed weapon in the suspension bar above. The central portion of the medal reads SPANISH WAR VETERANS 1898-1902 around a central scene of a kneeling figure gazing out to sea at a US warship, clearly just liberated by the soldier and sailor standing at either side. U.S.A. appears in the bottom arm of the cross. On the reverse, the word UNITED is prominent in the center of the badge, superimposed on a US shield with various corps and service insignia bordering it, and the letters N,S,E, and W prominent in the appropriate arms of the cross, gaining emphasis by the word “united” in the center, superimposed on stars and stripes.

The condition is excellent, with strong bronze tones to the metal, sharp definition to the raised motifs and lettering, and strong color to the flag ribbon. The box is in good condition, and shows an impressed B over 67079, matching the number on that back of the top bar.

The USWV was formed in 1904 by the merger of the three largest Spanish American War Veterans groups — the Spanish War Veterans, the Spanish–American War Veterans and the Servicemen of the Spanish War. They were joined in 1906 by the Legion of Spanish War Veterans and in 1908 by the Veteran Army of the Philippines, with veterans of the Boxer Rebellion (the China Relief Expedition 1900-1901) joining in the 1920s.

The last member of the organization reportedly died in 1992, but the organization was kept going for a number of years by members of the Sons of Spanish American War Veterans serving as acting officers.

This is an impressive badge in very strong condition. In addition to being a relic of the country’s early 1900s “Little Wars,” you also can’t help but note the repeated emphasis on the word “united” on the badge and in the North, South, East and West references on the reverse of the medal, since the Spanish-American War was often touted as proof of post Civil War reconciliation between North and South, with the country again united and former Confederate officers like Fitzhugh Lee and Joe Wheeler getting a lot of newspaper coverage for their donning of the blue. The badge thus also deserves in some ways a prominent place in any collection of Civil War veterans’ memorabilia as well.  [sr][ph:L]

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