was first conceived in 2023, during the 105th anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I. As commemorations unfolded across the globe, it became strikingly clear that no active, national, hereditary organization existed to honor the descendants of those who fought for or supported the American war effort. While countless lives were shaped by the sacrifices made both overseas and at home, their stories risked fading into obscurity without a unified effort to preserve them.

Motivated by this absence—and by the growing public interest in family history, legacy, and service—a multiyear effort was launched to build something enduring. Creating a place for researchers, genealogists, and historians to come together with a shared mission: to create a lineage society that would not only recognize ancestral service in World War I, but actively promote education, remembrance, and historical stewardship.

After careful planning and development, the Society of the Great War was formally founded and launched in 2025. Its founding goal is bold but clear: to welcome 1,000 descendants of American World War I participants into its ranks by the end of the centennial decade.

These first members—whether connected to doughboys in the trenches or volunteers in Liberty Loan drives—will help form the foundation of an organization committed to honoring the full spectrum of American service during the Great War.

The Society now moves forward with energy and purpose, ensuring that the legacy of the war, and the families it shaped, will never be forgotten.