World War I 100 Years Ago: Nov. 18-24

From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, November 21, 1916: Bronze service badges will be awarded every soldier of the Indiana National Guard who has been in federal service along the Mexican border according to an announcement made yesterday by state Adjutant General Franklin L. Bridges. Three thousand five hundred badges, of suitable design, will be ordered. Gen. Bridges hopes to have the badges ready for a public presentation by the time the Third Infantry Regiment returns to Ft. Benjamin Harrison. He has asked the War Department’s central office in Chicago for permission to have the Third Regiment parade through Indianapolis when it returns, with the award presentation following. This recognition of the service given by Hoosier soldiers is in contrast to the lack of similar badges being awarded to Indiana soldiers of the Spanish-American War.