Military Order of Foreign Wars

[1] Membership is composed of active duty, reserve and retired officers of the United States Armed Services, including the Coast Guard, National Guard, and allied officers, and their descendants, who have served during one of the wars in which the United States has or is engaged with a foreign power.

Its hereditary line of descent spans the period of American history since national independence during the Revolutionary War.

The motto of the Military Order of Foreign Wars is the Latin phrase Deus et Libertas meaning God and Liberty.

In 1896 the membership category of Honorary Companion was created for presidents of the United States and officers who had attained the rank of major general or rear admiral.

The qualifications for Honorary Companions were later changed to require that officers be equal to or higher than lieutenant general or vice admiral.

However, this selectivity has enabled the Order to sustain itself for over 100 years because it continues to fill its ranks with individuals of the highest caliber, patriotism, loyalty, and character.

Presidents Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison and William McKinley joined the MOFW as honorary companions.