The Military Order of the World Wars

San Diego Chapter chartered on August 26, 1926

The Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) is a non-political, patriotic Veterans Service Organization (VSO). The Military Order’s founding in 1919 resulted from General of the Armies John J. “Blackjack” Pershing’s request that his officers continue serving America after their active military service ended. He urged us to promote good citizenship, patriotic education, military, and public service. We celebrated our Centennial in August 2019.

Our Purpose

Our outreach programs and activities stem directly from the Preamble to our Constitution. Just some of the nine tenets include the following.

To inculcate and stimulate love of our country and flag; To promote and further patriotic education in our nation; and to defend the honor, integrity, and supremacy of the Constitution of the United States.

These tenets are centered on the idea embodied in its motto that “It is Nobler to Serve than to be Served.” The motto summarizes our commitment of MOWW to our veterans, families, youth, and our country. Our tagline is Serving Youth, Community, and Nation.

San Diego Chapter

We have been serving the San Diego area for the past 97 years. Our chapter has sponsored many events that have become constant in community life in San Diego. The oldest and most prominent of these events is the annual Massing of the Colors and Service of Remembrance. The San Diego chapter has also been quite active on the MOWW national stage. We are quite proud that the first female MOWW Commander-in-Chief, Capt Debbie Kash, USAF (Ret), is a member of our chapter. We have also provided MOWW with two other Commanders-in-Chief.

Outreach and Service: Three of Many

MOWW serves America’s youth by hosting Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) programs throughout the United States at no cost to high school students. The San Diego Chapter sponsors about 20 participants, and provides organizers, speakers, workshop leaders, and chaperons for the event. The event has grown from a small group to scores of students.

Another major event sponsored annually is the Massing of the Colors and Service of Remembrance. We shall hold the 2023 ceremony on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park. We shall co-sponsor with the Spreckels Organ Society. It is a patriotic ceremony to rededicate our faith in the Flag of the United States and to pledge our support to those Colors and of the servicemen and women those Colors represent. It combines the Flag and unit flags and color guards of active and reserve component military units, veterans organizations, civic, and patriotic organizations.

The Massing originated with The Society of the Massing of the Colors, that was organized on Armistice Day, 1922, by distinguished military officers, veterans, and civic leaders. Since 1927 MOWW has been sponsoring these ceremonies nationwide.

This free event, open to the public, brings together color guards from many organizations to celebrate patriotism and the flag each October in Balboa Park. Some responses have been these.

“Fantastic!” “... patriotic and beautiful....” “... even got a bit emotional at times.” “Most impressive!”

This event was first held in 1954 and has been a nearly annual event ever since. This year, 2023, will mark its 67th year.

Wreaths Across America (WAA) Its mission is to Remember, Honor, and Teach.

- Remember the fallen.

- Honor those who have served and their families.

- Teach our children the value of freedom.

WAA is a nationwide patriotic ceremony at perhaps hundreds of cemeteries on the same December day. The San Diego Chapter of MOWW has been a cosponsor of this event for several years. We provide speakers, honorary wreath bearers, financial support, music, and hundreds of volunteers. These volunteers lay wreaths on up to 10,000 graves of veterans and five Medal of Honor recipients at Greenwood Memorial Park, a private cemetery in San Diego. The 2023 ceremony will be on December 16.

Additionally, MOWW also sponsors awards programs for Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and Junior ROTC cadets (JROTC), the Girl Scouts of the USA (GS-USA), and the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). MOWW formally honors those who excel in national security, homeland security, and law and order.

To Learn More

We are a group of patriotic US Federally commissioned officers (active duty, retired and former) from all uniformed services, our spouses, and descendants. If you or someone you know would like to learn more about MOWW, please contact us through our websites or Facebook pages.

www.SanDiego-MOWW.org

Facebook: The Military Order of the World WarsMOWW-San Diego Chapter

“Serving Youth, Community, and Nation” since 1919