How we began

In 1961 National Woman's Relief Corps (NWRC) President Josephine Parkhurst George created an award for Junior High School through High School students. The students, she said, should be awarded for showing patriotism, high moral fiber, leadership, and responsibility. For the design of the medal she chose to use the image of John Alexander Logan, Jr., whom she felt was the perfect role model for youth to emulate.

In 1983 NWRC President Lurene I. Wentworth felt the the Logan Medal should be given to any of the volunteers that exhibited the same traits as described in the original concept. She particularly felt that the gentlemen that were faithful to support the NWRC throughout the years ought to be recognized for their efforts.

Oval Office of President of the United States; L-R: Eliza K. Paschall, White House Public Liaison and Associate Director of Women's Issues and Groups, President Ronald W. Reagan, PNP Josephine Parkhurst George, WRC Lurene I. Wentworth, Betty Ahern, WRC Past Assistant Secretary/Treasurer

In 1984 NWRC President Wentworth, accompanied by Past National President Josephine Parkhurst George, traveled to Washington DC and awarded the Logan Medal to United States President Ronald W. Reagan. Since that time the Logan Medal has become an award reserved for distinction in service to veterans, and for support of the work of the WRC. It was also determined to be an honor only bestowed by a NWRC National President or Past National President.

Past National President Wentworth hoped most of all to show appreciation for the gentlemen who'd volunteered tirelessly to assist WRC. So she proposed the establishment of an informal organization she called "Logan's Brigade." It was fitting to honor these men who assisted the WRC with no expectation of any return or credit bestowed. At her Convention in 1984 she proposed creation of the honorary group. Each of the men of that honorary group were given a Logan Medal. Since 1984 the honorary social group of men have met informally whenever the NWRC came together for local Corps or Department or National meetings/Conventions. NWRC journals, letters, and publications over the years have lauded the men of Logan's Brigade for all the many jobs they willingly took on in assisting the NWRC fulfill the promises made to the GAR.

From building displays for the museum, to driving members in parades to helping in many fundraisers and setting up conference rooms these men happily volunteered to provide help for the WRC. They were happy to be a part of the work of honoring the GAR, and they recognized this was a way to honor their wives, sisters, mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and so on.

In 2019 NWRC President Jessica Harrocks, ("President Jessie") followed the precepts of keeping the Logan Medal as exclusively awarded to those volunteers exhibiting extreme examples of patriotism, and who have displayed great respect for our Nation, the flag, our active-duty military members and our veterans of military service. One of her first orders after being sworn-in as National President was to award the Logan Medal to actor Gary Sinise for his extraordinary and exemplary service in honoring our Nation's heroes.

The desk of Gary Sinise, at his

Foundation, Los Angeles, California

President Jessie then proposed expansion of the concept of the informal Logan Brigade social group, and to help it to become a legal Associate organization to the WRC. She explained an official charter should be established that would enable the members of Logan’s Brigade to develop their own administration and hold offices. She set into motion the legal processes to enable an official charter to be possible.

President Jessie announced March 24, 2020 that beginning April 1, 2020, recruiting could begin and Logan's Brigade 'official' members were accepted. COVID-19 restrictions prompted President Jessie and the initial group of applicants to extend the charter period until March 31, 2022.

Though the Logan Medal is not to be confused with Logan’s Brigade, the influence of Past National President Josephine Parkhurst George and the further development of Past National President Lurene I. Wentworth should always be remembered as the progenitors of the concept of Logan's Brigade, Men's Associate to the NWRC.

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