North Reading’s Medals for World War I Veterans

Did you know that way back when, soon after the end of World War I, the town of North Reading issued medals to the veterans of the town who had participated in the Great War?  And at that point it was called the Great War or the World War - we didn’t know then that there would be another. 

I didn't know about the medals - until this past Fall - when one of the medals showed up in North Reading.  The North Reading Historical and Antiquarian Society had been contacted, and I was asked as the Library’s Local History and Genealogy volunteer to help find out more about it.  As I learned, with a little internet searching, it was pretty common after that War for towns or counties or states or organizations to issue medals in appreciation of the veterans' patriotic service.  I'm sure that in some cases more than one place or organization issued a medal to the same veteran.  People on the homefront were very proud of the locals who served.

There were at least two national companies that made such medals, using blank templates, so many of the ones issued looked pretty similar.  The one in North Reading looked like this on the front

and this on the back.

If you want to know more, or know anything about this kind of medal, I’d be very happy to talk with you.  If you want to see this medal in person, it is currently on display at the Putnam House.