Guidelines For The Wearing Of Regalia
by Deputy Treasurer General Grant Mark Peterson

REGULATIONS FOR WEARING REGALIA:
These recommendations governing the wearing of regalia of the Order Supplement the provisions of Article V "Regalia" found in the "Handbook of the OFPA" and are published for the information and guidance of members. All regalia should only be worn as stated, kept in good repair, clean and presented in a neat and orderly appearance. Only members of the Order are at liberty to wear the regalia and at the level to which it belongs i.e., Past Governors lapel pin by Past Governors, etc. The Order's regalia is never to be worn as articles of jewelry. All sales by the Deputy Treasurer General are made to active members only.

THE REGALIA AND ACCOUTERMENTS ROSETTES: there are four types:

• The Plain Rosette (membership), available in the button type and tie tack. May be worn by all Associates and comes in the colors of the order.
• Rosette with silver braid beneath is authorized for Officers and Councilors of State Societies.
• Rosette with half-silver and half gold braid beneath is reserved for past and present General Officers and Councilors General.
• Rosette with gold braid beneath is for the sole use of the present and past governors general.

NECKTIE OF THE ORDER: A necktie in the colors of the order comes in a four-in-hand and bow styles and may be worn during business and social hours. The bow-tie may be worn with the dinner coat to informal parties and meetings of the Order as well as to formal affairs.

CUMMERBUND OF THE ORDER: A cummerbund of the Order may be worn with the dinner coat to informal parties and meetings as well as to formal affairs.

BLAZER PATCH OF THE ORDER: An embroidered cloth patch with clutch back may be worn with informal dress during business or social hours. It is fastened to the left breast pocket of a blazer, using the clutch back pins or by sewing.

EMBLEM BADGE: The emblem badge of the Order consists of the Order of the Founders and Patriots' medal attached to a drape ribbon with the colors of the Order. It is worn conspicuously on the left breast of the coat (off the lapel) and 4 inches below the middle part of the shoulder seams. The emblem is worn only with fill evening dress or dinner jacket. Those who have been Officers of a State Society, including Councilors and General Officers may wear the emblem badge from a neck ribbon of the Order's colors on formal occasions. This should fit snugly with the emblem badge drawn up closely below the knot of the tie.

GENERAL OFFICERS CORDON (SASH): The cordon of the Order is worn by General Officers (past and present) and Councilors General on formal occasions. It extends from the right shoulder diagonally to the left hip in such a way that the red stripe is close the neck and the bow resting on the hip. The emblem of the order hangs under the bow by a loop provided for that purpose. The cordon is worn under the coat and over the waist coat with frill evening dress. It is never worn with informal dress or with a dinner jacket or tuxedo. Although insignia of other societies may be worn about the neck, it is considered improper to wear the neck ribbon with the OFPA emblem at the same time as wearing the cordon.

PLAQUE OF THE ORDER OR GOVERNOR'S STAR: Is the distinctive insignia of the General Officers (past or present) and Governors of State Societies. It is worn with formal attire on occasions of official or formal ceremony and is always displayed on the left front of the coat approximately three inches above the waist seam. When wearing the plaque, the State Governor should not wear any other insignia of the Order, although a bar of miniatures (including the miniature emblem badge of the Order) is acceptable. General Officers should wear the Plaque in conjunction with the cordon. When appropriate in the judgment of the Governor, the Plaque may be worn with a dinner jacket on the left front of the coat immediately above the waist. The Plaque should never be worn pendant from a neck ribbon or other than as specified above.

PAST STATE GOVERNOR'S LAPEL PIN: The pin may be worn only by past Governors of State Societies on the left lapel of a jacket on informal occasions.

MINIATURE EMBLEM BADGE: May be worn only on the left front and is pinned four or five inches below the middle point of the shoulder seam and not on the pocket. It is worn under the same conditions with respect to function and attire as the frill size emblem badge. When two or more medals are worn at the same time, all must be the same size. The emblem medal on the cordon or neck ribbon is always frill size.

ADDITIONAL RULES CONCERNING WEARING OF REGALIA:
When other decorations and medals are worn with the emblem badge on ceremonial occasions, all should be in proper order in one horizontal line across the upper left front. To ensure proper alignment, the insignia should be mounted on a single horizontal bar, bottom line of the medals even. Ribbons may be overlapped over the right edges but, never by more than 50 percent. The number of medals that may be worn simultaneously is a matter of taste. A recommendation is that no more than one row be displayed. However, when federal decorations are worn in conjunction with multiple insignia, the former may be worn in a row above the later with the top row pinned four inches below the shoulder seam. Multiple insignia always should be mounted in order of precedence with the first being on the far left. Precedence dictates that Federal Decorations and Medals come first. Foreign Decorations take precedence immediately following all Federal Decorations. Service Medals are displayed from right to left in the chronological order of the award. Then State decorations, for the proper order display of the medal or long service award, the respective state regulation should be consulted. Finally, Insignia of Hereditary and Veterans Societies, such insignia should be displayed from left to right in chronological order of founding.

Bulletin - Fall 1999