By virtue of being veterans who have  served their country in its time of greatest need, the fun-loving,  hard-working Voyageurs Militaire maintain a strong commitment to the  American way of life.  Americanism projects, respect for the flag,  Constitution, Law and Order and the proven willingness to defend these  principles is evident in the day-to-day activities of members of our  society.  

 The Voyageurs Militaire (Military  Travelers) founded a Child Welfare Program in 1923 to ease the pain and  suffering of those children whose fathers never returned or who were  unable to care for their needs after the "Big War."  Today, this program  has grown to include all children with emergent needs, and our efforts  amount to over eight millions of dollars annually.  

Our primary goal is to make the forty and eight Nurses Training program a household brand name in our communities and eliminate Nursing shortages in America. We want to continue developing a stronger relationship with our community by attending community affairs, encouraging business, promote individual sponsors, and promote nursing scholarships to get the job done. We need your help. Come and join us, march with us.  

 The National Box Car Association (NBCA) is an independent association within the Forty & Eight which raises funds by selling Crew or Associate Membership Cards. All funds raised by the Association are used within the year they are obtained. The National Box Car Association supports several special projects at Promenade Nationale (National Convention). Each year, a party for special children is planned at the host city. These special children and their escorts are treated to lunch, train rides and entertainment provided by HOBO Clowns and bands. The entire cost of this party is paid by the NBCA from the funds collected in their annual membership drive. Another project at Promenade Nationale, is a monetary donation made to the local VAVS Hospital or Clinic. This contribution usually goes to the Patient Services area. The NBCA also contributes large amounts to the various programs of Voiture Nationale (National Headquarters), such as the Boland Nurses Training Trust Fund and the Charles Ardery Child Welfare Trust Fund. Monies are also given to the other programs which may require assistance, such as the Membership Committee, Forty & Eighter Magazine, Law Officer of the Year Program and many others.

The Forty & Eight, as are most  Veterans Organizations, is an active member and participant in the VAVS  program.  As part of this program, Voyageurs (called Representatives or  Deputy Representatives) represent the Forty and Eight by regularly  attending the VAVS Committee meetings at their Local Veteran  Administration Medical Centers (VAMC’s). They as well as other Voyageur  Volunteers visit the VAMC’s on a regular basis, where they give comfort  and assistance to, or just visit with, the hospitalized veterans. VAVS  Volunteers are a priceless asset to the Nation’s Veterans and to the  Department of Veterans Affairs.   

The Forty & Eight has adopted an  additional program for these veterans, called "Keep Those Wheelchairs  Rolling."  Under this program, the VAVS Representative (or Deputy  Representative) writes a brief letter outlining a "need" of the  patients.  These "needs" may cover a project, equipment or comfort and  convenience items needed by the hospitalized veterans.  The entries are  then judged on the need and benefit to the patients, and those selected  receive the item(s) requested, courtesy of the National Box Car  Association.

The purpose of the National POW/MIA  Program is to raise funds in Honor of the Servicemen & Women who  were Prisoners of War, or are considered Missing in Action while serving  in the defense of the United States of America, or its allies during  times of armed conflict.  The funds are raised to facilitate the  formation and continuance of a Scholarship Trust Fund for the direct  descendants of verifiable POW/MIA Servicemen and Women.  Scholarships  are limited to the Veteran, the Spouse of the veterans, children,  grandchildren and great grandchildren of the veteran.  

As one of their ongoing programs, the Voyageurs Militaire offer continuing support of the publication, "The Carville Star," which disseminates the information regarding the research into Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) taking place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  There they have been successful in isolating, controlling and soon, through their research, the development of a vaccine to prevent Hansen's Disease.  "The Star" is published at the former United States Public Health Service Hospital located in Carville, Louisiana.  This patient-published publication carries the research works of not only this center, but those of the rest of the world, and is translated into and forwarded to 128 countries in addition to a circulation of more than 60,000 in the United States.