Images(7)

Cap, Garrison

Object number2019.131.2

Date1968

MediumFabric; Satin; Plastic; Metal; Applied decoration; Paper

Credit LineGift of Roberta Riethmiller Egelston

DescriptionDark green garrison cap with multiple pins. Cap is regular style with a rectangular body and rounded top; sides are folded over and create a pocket all the way around the cap. Yellow trimming around tops of sides with a diagonal piece from top to bottom on the front right side. Right side of cap has an embroidered Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) logo in the center, which features the Great Seal of the United States with white text around the outside and red, white, and yellow decorations around the edge. Left of the logo is a metal pin with the VFW logo above two crossed flags; flag on the left is the American flag, and flag on right is the VFW logo on a blue background. Two lines of text below the flags. Above embroidered VFW logo is a black, plastic name tag with white, engraved text and a metal VFW pin on the left of the name tag. Right of the embroidered logo is a gold-colored American flag pin with a safety pin back and fake gemstones creating design of the flag, and to the right of that is a red patch with yellow text. Front right of cap has yellow, embroidered text with a metal pin depicting a man in a military uniform saluting; engraved text in pin under man. Front of hat has a red, paper circle with a green wire poking through the middle that has a rounded head with small beads attached to it. Left side of cap has yellow, embroidered text across the side and three metal pins. First pin near the front is the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) logo above raised text. Second pin in the middle is designed like a stopwatch with raised text and the outline of the VFW logo in the center. Third pin at the back of the cap is the Liberty Bell with raised text across the top and raised VFW in the middle. Inside of cap has a mustard yellow satin lining with a leather band around the bottom. Tag with manufacturing information sewn into faux leather band; date stamped on otherside of leather band.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (flat): 5 x 11.5 x 1 in. (12.7 x 29.2 x 2.5 cm)
InscriptionsEmbroidered text on Veterans of Foreign Wars logo: "VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS".

Text on first pin with crossed flags: "CAM / 19 V.F.W. 70".

White text engraved on black name tag: "ROBERT RIETHMILLER / GUYASUTA / POST 709 / SHARPSBURG, PA. / VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS".

Yellow text on red patch: "LIFE MEMBER".

Text beneath man in military uniform pin: "JLV".

Yellow embroidered text on front right side of cap: "V.F.W. / 709".

Text below VFW logo on first pin on left side of cap: "TEAM / 19 V.F.W. 69".

Raised text on front of pin that looks like stopwatch: "10 / IN / 68".

Raised text across top of Liberty Bell pin: "LET'S RING IT AGAIN / 19 / 67".

Yellow, embroidered text on left side of cap: "POST COMMANDER / 1968-69 / PENNSYLVANIA".
MarksTag with manufacturing information sewn into leather band of cap: "[illegible] / EF / 57251 / [illegible logo] / 6 7/8".

Date stamped on inside of leather band: "JUN 1968".
Historical NotesA Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 709 garrison cap with pins worn by Robert Riethmiller. Robert Riethmiller of O’Hara Township was a veteran of WWII who served in the South Pacific with the 111th Infantry. Riethmiller was a life member and former commander of Guyasuta Post 709 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, starting around 1969. He spent decades of his life volunteering for multiple Veterans’ organizations, hospitals, and nursing homes, where he visited veterans in care and oversaw outings and activities for long-term patients. Most notably, he helped lobby for the establishment of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Veterans' Care Center and the VA Aspinwall site which became the H.J. Heinz Progressive Care Center. Riethmiller was also part of the “Military Order of the Cootie,” (a VFW auxiliary for members involved with veterans hospitals) and was therefore known as “Cootie Bob.” By his death, it is estimated that he had contributed between 45,000-50,000 hours of service; he is chronicled in many newspaper articles, in which he is depicted wearing his VFW and Cootie hats. Riethmiller was married to Doris Bauer Riethmiller, who was herself a member of the Auxiliary of Guyasuta Post 709 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. They had two children, William and Roberta (Bobby).

Previous owner Robert Riethmiller (1915 - 2013)

Related person William Riethmiller (died 2014)

Related person Roberta J. Egelston

Related institution 111th Infantry

Related institution Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 709

Related institution Veterans of Foreign Wars

Related institution Military Order of the Cootie

Related person Doris Bauer Riethmiller

Related institution United States Army

Related institution Pennsylvania National Guard

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