World War One Efforts to Help Win the War

A special Lone Scout pin was given out free during World War I to Lone Scouts who were doing their part to help win the war. It was presented upon receipt of a report of efforts by the Lone Scout and signed by an adult. They were awarded for their excellent work and to stimulate them to even greater endeavors. Such things as growing a war garden in thriving condition, helping to can and preserve food, building bird feeders and bird houses. Other things were efforts to protect insect destroying birds, spending part of their vacation at farm work, locating black walnut trees whose wood was used to make gun stocks and airplane propellers, and many other ways. The award was authorized in July 1918.

In Lone Scout an advertisement was run to encourage Lone Scouts to earn the War Medal. It read as follows:

Medal for War Work

Are you a war hero? Have you performed a service which deserves recognition? Then come forward and receive your decoration. The accompanying drawing [of the medal] shows the new Lone Scout War Medal which is given free to Lone Scouts who are doing their part to help win the war.

If you have a war garden in thriving condition, if you are helping to can and preserve food, if you are swatting flies and protecting insect-destroying birds, or spending any part of your vacation at farm work, you are entitled to one of these medals. They are awarded for the excellent work done by Lone Scouts and to stimulate them to still greater endeavors. The medal is very handsome in color and design. The actual size and color is shown. The design portrays the various war activities in which Lone Scouts are engaged, such as producing and preserving food, and protecting birds. Any patriotic boy will be proud to wear one of the medals. To get one, make out a report stating what you have done, and have it signed by your parents, guardians, or some reliable persons in your town, stating that your report is correct, and the medal will be forwarded.

In addition, there was much made of General Pershing's heroic efforts in World War One and the LSA wanted to bring this admiration into focus for Lone Scouts. A pocket piece was offered in the following advertisement which appeared in Lone Scout. This was supposed to be the first of several medals which would honor war heroes, but as it turned out, it was the only one which was produced.

Pershing Pocket Piece for Our Patriotic Scouts

Here’s something all our boys will want—and it’s easy to get. This is the first of a series of medals honoring our heroes in the great war. Every Scout is an admirer of Gen. John J. Pershing, commanding the American Expeditionary Forces in France. On one side of the medal is the best picture of the silent, strong man who is the leader of our soldiers at the front. On the other side of the medal are shown Old Glory and the flags of the allies. The medal is of bronze, is slightly larger than a half dollar and will never wear out. It makes a fine pocket piece and a valuable relic of the mightiest war in history. If desired, the Pershing medal can be put in a frame, and others that are to follow can be added to the frame.

The Pershing medal will be mailed, postage prepaid, to any boy who subscribes for the "Lone Scout" magazine for a year. The subscription rate for a year is 75 cents. You can send your own subscription or a subscription for a friend of relative. Just send the 75 cents, with the name and address for our subscription list, and say you want the Pershing medal.