2015 USMMA Challenge Coin sales have begun

aooga15

aooga15

5-Year Member
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Dec 23, 2010
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:biggrin: CHALLENGE COIN
The 2015 USMMA Challenge Coin Sales has officially begun. The coin is really awesome this year with the logo of the class of 2015 on one side and the school crest on the other.
We plan on selling out again this year... (we order more coins every year but the demand is always so great). So IF you want a new 2015 Challenge Coin(s), please mail in your check ASAP.
I will NOT record orders until I get the payment.
We also do NOT intend to do any backorders this year.
Coins will be mailed out BEFORE PW to those that order before PW. (in years past we have waited until after PW to mail the coins out). You MAY pick them up at Parents Weekend (or have your DS/ DD pick them up).
We will be passing out the preorders and selling the remainder coins on the FRIDAY ONLY of Parents Weekend. We anticipate selling out quickly, and will be enjoying "just being parents" on Saturday. (thus if you intend to pick up your coin at PW, you will need to do so Friday morning).
Challenge Coins are $20 PER coin
$ 2 shipping PER COIN if you need them mailed to you
NO shipping cost if you are picking up at PW
$22 PER COIN for coins that need to be mailed out
$20 PER COIN for coins that will be picked up at PW
Make checks out to; USMMA Midwest Parents Assoc

please email Jennifer at jjucchino@aol.com to find out where to send a payment to

These make a wonderful Christmas gift for family members, your DS/ DD, etc etc. Often times parents purchase a coin for their mid/ plebe for every year they are at the Academy.
We appreciate your order.
The PURPOSE of our fundraiser is to get enough $ to pay for our coins, and then with any proceeds we will purchase a Challenge Coin and gift one to EACH of the graduating 1st classmen. We will give them the coin at graduation. (not just the 1st classmen in our PA, but EVERY 1st classmen). Thus if you are a 1st class parent, you do NOT need to purchase a coin for your child. This is our outreach that the Midwest PA does.
Thank you all for your orders. The coin this year is extra nice!
 
History of Military Challenge Coins





During WWI, American volunteers from all parts of the country filled the newly formed flying squadrons. Some were wealthy scions attending colleges such as Yale and Harvard who quit in midterm to join the war. In one squadron, a wealthy lieutenant ordered medallions struck in solid bronze carrying the squadron emblem for every memeber of his squadron. He himself carried his medallion in a small leather sack about his neck.





Shortly after acquiring the medallions, this pilot's aircraft was severely damanged by ground fire. He was forced to land behind enemy lines and was immediately captured by a German patrol. In order to discourage his escape, the Germans took all of his personal identification except for the small leather pouch around his neck. In the meantime, he was taken to a small French town near the front. Taking advantage of the bombardment that night, he donned civilian clothes and escaped. However he was without personal identification.





He succeeded in avoiding German patrols and reached the front lines. With great difficulty, he crossed no-man's land. Eventually, he stumbled onto a French outpost. Unfortunately, the French in this sector had been plagued with saboteurs who sometimes masqueraded as civilians wearing civilian clothes. Not recognizing the young pilot's American Accent, the French thought him to be a saboteur and made him ready to execute him. Just in time, he remembered his leather pouch containing the medallion. He showed it to his would-be-executioners. His French captors recognized the squadron insignia onthe medallion and delayed long enough for him to confirm his identity. Instead of shooting him, they gave him a bottle of wine!





Back with his squadron, it became a tradition to ensure that all members carried their medallion or coin at all times. This was accomplished through a challenge in the following manner; A challenger would ask to see the coin. If the challenger could not produce his coin, he was required to purchase a drink of choice for the member who had challenged him. If the challenged member produced his coin, then the challenging member was required to pay for the drink. This tradition continued throughout the war and for many years after while surviving members of the squadron were still alive.





The tradition of the Challenge Coin continues to be practiced throughout the military.
 
2015 Challenge Coin sold out

The 2015 Challenge coin presales is now over. We will not be taking any more orders ... we will have a handful of coins to sell at Parents Weekend but will sell out by mid morning of the first day. Thank you to everyone who purchased a coin this year!
 
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