History

The Military Order of the World Wars "Patriotic Education Program" had its origin in many, sometimes random, activities culminating in the approval of a formal activity of the Order during the Midwinter General Staff Meeting in January 1962. A committee was formed called the "Americanism Committee".  In the 40 years since the program came into being, and about 5 years after the formation of the Patriotic Education Committee in 1976, the Order's Patriotic Education program experienced substantial growth.

Dedicated companions in the chapters responding to the prompting of the leadership of the Order and the vigorous leadership of the Americanism Committee, followed by the Patriotic Education Committee, have generated many programs in their local areas. Meaningful and fruitful liaison has been established between the Chapters and the civic and educational leaders in communities throughout the Nation. Concurrent with the spread of communism on the international political scene, the growth of Americanism and Patriotic Education Programs developed at Chapter level, have had an inestimable impact upon the Nation and are effective countermeasure to the insidiousness of communism. Chapters are holding Massing of the Colors (ceremonies honoring the Flag), patriotism seminars, touring lecturers, etc. at schools, civic auditoriums, and private establishments reaching tens of thousands of people of all ages.

As these activities increased, the need was recognized for an outreach program for the youth of the Nation. Under the capable leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Robbins, and his wife Rebecca, the first "Youth Leadership Conference (YLC)" was promulgated in 1981 at the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania with 27 students in attendance. From that beginning the YLC's have increased to more than sixty conferences across the Nation, developing the leadership potential of thousands of young men and women. Some of these conferences are dynamic programs of five to six hours (called Single-Day YLC's), while others are of a full four, five and sometimes six days (called Multi-Day YLC's).  Young people attending our YLC's receive exciting exposure to civic, educational, military, and industrial leaders relating their life experiences, their successes and their failures, which are the ingredients of effective and successful leadership.   The young people are also exposed to our national heritages and the meanings of patriotism and freedom as George Washington, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and other signers of the Declaration of Independence envisioned these ideas. Students relating the message they learn at our Youth Leadership Conferences to members of their school and community project a benefit far beyond our ability to measure.

Click here to see a chart of the Patriotic Education Committee. It will eventually replace page A-2 of the PEC Manual.

The full PEC manual can be downloaded as a PDF file which is currently being extensively updated.

(Caution this is a very large file)
If you do not have a copy of Acrobat reader to view this file click here