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Gold Star Pilgrimage Medallion

Gold Star Pilgrimage Medallion - Medal
Accession #: 3774.1
Title: Gold Star Pilgrimage Medallion
Object Type: Medal
Participants:
Taylor, Alvaretta (collector)
Physical Description: Round bronze medallion with silk neck loop contained in hinged box container. The Medal: Bronze medallion with fixed hanging loop top center fitted with soldered oblong pivoting loop through which a silk ribbon is threaded. The ribbon is woven in a tri-color stripe of red, white and blue. The seam of the ribbon is sewn, flattened and glued in place. The medallion has designs and inscriptions on two sides and the bottom edge. The front illustrates an ocean liner flanked by the Statue of Liberty on the proper left side of the medallion and the Eiffel Tower on the proper right side of the medallion. The medallion has a dark, dull patina but a five-point star centered in the sky over the boat is a polished bright gold color. Incised lines radiate from the star to create the background of the sky. Under the ship is the date "1930." Reverse: In the top two thirds of the medallion are the words "GOLD STAR PILGRIMAGE TO THE BATTLEFIELDS OF THE WORLD WAR" In the bottom third is a round medallion with the ship company inscribed "UNITED STATES LINES", flanked by motif of ivy. On the edge is stamped: " BRONZE 898". The Box: A cardboard box covered in high quality white paper. The box is hinged in the back to open like a clam shell. The top edges of the lid and bottom are edged in metallic gold. The interior bottom is lined with a pad of satin with a ribbon pull, top center. The lid is inscribed: "Tiffany & Co. Fifth Avenue & 37th Street, New York, Paris, London", the bottom of the box is inscribed "898."
Description: Frank Taylor of Spokane enlisted in the Washington National Guard in 1908, serving in the Mexican Border War before being mustered into service after the United States entered World War I. Taylor was sent to France as a 2nd Lieutenant. On October 11, 1918, wounded, he led his platoon into battle at Meuse-Argonne. Wounded a second time and disabled, he urged his men on to successfully capture a strategic position. Sadly, Lieutenant Taylor's injuries proved fatal. Over a decade after the war ended, the United States government organized trips for mothers and widows of soldiers who had died in Europe to visit the final resting place of their lost loved ones. Frank Taylor's mother Alvaretta travelled to Europe in 1930 to visit her son's grave at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery on one of these trips. She later reflected on her experience: "I cannot praise our government enough for making this trip possible. Everything was done for our comfort and pleasure - nothing seemed too good for us." This medal was presented to Alvaretta on the trip to France in 1930.
Category: History
Subjects/Topics/Concepts:
World War I (Military & Warfare->War)
Dimensions:
length 15"
Materials/Techniques:
silk (Material)
paper (Material)
cardboard (Material)
bronze (Material)
Marks/Inscription:
On medallion: "1930", "GOLD STAR PILGRIMAGE TO THE BATTLEFIELDS OF THE WORLD WAR", "UNITED STATES LINES", "BRONZE 898"; BOX: "TIFFANY & CO. Fifth Avenue & 37th Street, New York, Paris, London", "898"
Related Exhibits:
Credit Line: Gift of Ethel Taylor Flory, 1996

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