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What if you spotted a Legionnaire in a purple beret or garrison cap, perhaps during the Washington Conference or National Convention? Who is authorized to wear them? And what do they mean?
The select few Legionnaires donning such colorful chapeau are members of ANAVICUS: Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada – United States. It's an offshoot of ANAVIC, a Canadian veterans organization first authorized in 1840 by Queen Victoria, who granted permission for members to wear berets of royal purple. Under the power of the Canadian Parliament, ANAVIC presented a charter to ANAVICUS in 1953, and Lt. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey was elected first president of the new organization.
In the following years, most American Legion founders, past national commanders and other distinguished Legionnaires were inducted into ANAVICUS – a tradition that continues annually at the Legion's national convention and Washington Conference. Today, 1,100 Legionnaires wear the ANAVICUS Royal purple beret or cap.
In 1982, the ANAVICUS executive committee voted to establish and fund a memorial to Past National Commander Harry W. Colmery, architect of the original GI Bill. The memorial is located at American Legion National Headquarters in Indianapolis. At that same meeting, the committee also established its first scholarship, a cash award to a cadet at the Royal Military College of Canada.
Since then, ANAVICUS' scholarship program has grown to nine, including seven for U.S. citizens. The cash awards are based on compassion, athletics, leadership and scholarship. Each scholarship is awarded in memory of a prominent ANAVICUS member.
The Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada – United States Unit Scholarship is awarded to a cadet at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario.
The Father Edward J. Carney Scholarship is awarded to a sophomore or junior at Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass. Carney was an American Legion past national chaplain and longtime chaplain of ANAVICUS.
The Rev. Frank L. Harrington Scholarship is awarded to a sophomore or junior at Carroll College in Helena, Mont. Harrington served as a past national chaplain.
The Gen. Lewis B. Hershey Scholarship is awarded to a sophomore or junior at Trine University in Angola, Ind. Hershey was a leading force in establishing ANAVICUS and becoming its first president.
The Col. Frank Kossa Scholarship and Leadership Award is presented to a senior cadet at the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Children's Home in Knightstown, Ind.
The James F. O'Neil Scholarship is awarded to a sophomore or junior at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. O'Neil served as a past national commander of The American Legion and past president of ANAVICUS.
The Gen. Frank R. Schwengel Scholarship is awarded to a sophomore or junior at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y. Schwengel was a leading force in the formation of ANAVICUS and a member of its executive committee.
The E. Roy Stone Jr. Scholarship is awarded to an ROTC cadet student at Furman University in Greenville, S.C. Stone was a Legion past national commander and longtime distinguished member of ANAVICUS. He was an alumnus of Furman University.
The Daniel F. Foley Scholarship is given to an outstanding student in Canada who is a direct descendant of a member of Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada. Applications are reviewed by ANAVIC. Foley served as The American Legion's national commander and longtime ANAVICUS president.
During its 55-year history, ANAVICUS has had four presidents: Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, 1953-1977; and American Legion Past National Commanders James F. O'Neil, 1978-1980; Daniel F. Foley, 1981-2002; and John P. "Jake" Comer, 2002-present.
Reprinted from The American Legion Online Update. To subscribe to The American Legion Online Update, click here.
