DS as president, one page, 8 x 10.5, October 30, 1947. Citation "to accompany the award of the Medal for Merit to Irving Geist," an apparel manufacturer and philanthropist known for his efforts in the rehabilitation of disabled war veterans, complete with the actual Medal of Merit presented to Geist. The document, in full: "Irving Geist, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the United States from July, 1942 to December, 1946. Mr. Geist undertook, and carried to a successful conclusion, many difficult projects designed to lessen the suffering and to hasten the recovery of more than two hundred thousand Army, Navy and Marine Corps sick and wounded soldiers and veterans returned to the United States for treatment and rehabilitation. This task, which included the heavy contribution of his personal means, the devotion of his entire time and considerable country-wide travel, was accomplished through his indefatigable energy, and dedicated public spirit in spire of innumerable obstacles incident to wartime shortages." The medal and its case, along with bar and pin, are mounted, matted, and framed in a shadowbox to an overall size of 11.5 x 10.25. In very good to fine condition, with two larger tears extending down from the top edge to Geist's name. Accompanied by six original vintage photographs, ranging in size from 10 x 8 to 11 x 14, showing Geist with Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and others.
In his New York Times obituary, Geist was praised as a 'one‐man philanthropic agency'—during the World War II era, he headed some 23 philanthropic institutions; the Times also made note of his receipt of the Medal for Merit from President Truman: 'During the war he was credited with having procured a million theater and sports tickets for servicemen in New York. In 1945 Mr. Geist promoted $350,000 for three therapeutic swimming pools on Staten Island.' A desirable document awarded to one of America's great wartime philanthropists.
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