Formed in 1920 by Joseph Breen at Breen-McCracken American Legion Post 297 in Philadelphia, Pa. La Societe was to be an organization for Legion members to be able to let off steam and be able to have fun and enjoy the comradeship of fellow members. The first official Promenade or meeting was held at The 1920 Department Of Pennsylvania American Legion Convention in Allentown, Pa., where other Legionaires from across the state were initiated or wrecked into La Societe. The familiar French Boxcar(Voiture) that they knew so well was chosen to be launching platform of the 40 et 8. The Posts and Officers were to be titled after the French Railroad, such as Voiture (boxcar) and their Voiture Commander would be Chef de Gare (Station Master) on up to (Nationale Commander) Chef de Chemin de Fer or President of the Railroad. There would be 1 Voiture (boxcar) per county and members were to be called Voyageurs Militaire (military travelers). Their uniform was to be a chapeau(overseas cap)& gray smock with a blue collar with the black letters 40 over 8 on it. The Voyageur would have a gray chapeau with blue pipeing, Voiture Officer would have a red chapeau with blue pipeing, Grand (state) Officer would have a white chapeau with blue pipeing. The National Officers would have a gold colored chapeau with blue pipeing. The Past Officers would have a gray chapeau with either red, white or gold pipeing according to the level office that they held. With a rented Boxcar the Voyageurs traveled to the National American Legion Convention at Cleveland, Ohio, where 700 Legionaires from across the nation were initiated or wrecked into La Societe. The National Organization was formed and Joseph Breen was elected Preimere Chef de Chemin de Fer. The National Headquarters (Voiture Nationale) was established in Seattle Washington, and the 40/8 became the playground of the American Legion. Other than the programs listed on the programs webpage the 40 et 8 was interested in Membership and recruited the American Legion 25,000 new members the first year. The Constitution proposed at Kansas City in 1921 put the 40/8 on the road to progress.

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