United States. A Sons Of The American Revolution Membership Badge To Major General Bickford Sawyer

A SAR membership badge constructed of gilded bronze, presenting a white-enamelled Maltese cross, with ball finials, with gilded and blue-enamelled laurel leaves wreathed through the cross’s arms, the centre obverse presents the profile of George Washington, surrounded by the SAR Latin motto LIBERTAS ET PATRIA (LIBERTY AND COUNTRY), the centre reverse presents a standing figure holding a musket, circumscribed by a ring of blue-enamel bearing the title SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, surmounted by an eagle, engraved with the number 84141 on the edge of the nine o’clock arm, measuring 38.75 mm (w) x 67.83 mm (h - inclusive of eagle), on loop for suspension from period original ribbon with clasps for both World Wars, and in overall very fine condition.

Footnote: Bickford Edward Sawyer was born on 1 August 1894 in Melrose, Massachusetts, to parents Edward W. Sawyer and Flora Belle Bickford. On 19 August 1917, Sawyer married Grace Charlotte Bell (1895-1997) in Medford, Massachusetts. Sawyer served as 2nd Lieutenant in the Cavalry Officers Reserve Corp from 7 May 1917 to 26 August 1919. According to the 1930 Census of the United States, the Sawyer family lived in Quarry Heights Army Post in the Panama Canal Zone. Sawyer, working for the Finance Department, received a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in August 1940. He was appointed Chief of Finance for the United States Army in July 1951 and promoted to major general. Sawyer authorized the establishment of the Finance Corps Historical Exposition on 29 January 1954 and requested all items of historic nature pertaining to the Finance Corps or its predecessors to all offices under this command. Sawyer retired from active duty on 31 August 1955. As a descendant of John Bickford, Sawyer joined the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution in 1959. As a member of the Clearwater Chapter, Sawyer served as President of the Florida Society of the SAR from 1965 to 1966. He died 27 April 1976. Sawyer received the Legion of Merit Medal and Commendation Ribbon with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.

The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR or NSSAR) is a congressionally chartered organization, founded in 1889, and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. The first organization of descendants of Revolutionary War patriots was established in San Francisco, California, in 1876. A group of men who were descendants of Revolutionary War veterans gathered to celebrate the centennial of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States. They also wanted to honor the men and women who pledged their lives, fortunes, and livelihood to the striving for independence from Great Britain. It describes its purpose as "maintaining and extending the institutions of American freedom, an appreciation for true patriotism, a respect for our national symbols, the value of American citizenship, and the unifying force of "e pluribus unum" that was created, from the people of many nations, coming together as one nation and one people." Sons of the American Revolution is a patriotic organization. Its members are male descendants of people who served in the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), or who contributed to establishing the independence of the United States. The society is dedicated to perpetuating American ideals and traditions, and to protecting the Constitution of the United States; the official recognition of Constitution Day, Flag Day, and Bill of Rights Day were established through its efforts. It has members in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.