The 2007 Orders and Medals Society of America International Convention will take place in the Houston area Aug. 9-12 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center. It is located 30 minutes north of downtown Houston.
At the Orders and Medals Society of America International Convention, medals from many famous historic military events can be viewed. Shown is a display of medals from the Napoleonic War.
Dealers and collectors from all over the world will gather to buy, sell and exhibit rare and unusual orders, decorations and medals from the United States and other nations from different time periods. Several educational seminars and other events are also scheduled for the benefit of the membership during non-public hours.
OMSA is inviting non-member numismatic collectors and the general public to participate in the convention. There will be opportunities for the public to bring in family medals for identification and valuation. Public hours are on Aug. 11 are from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Cash-only admission is $8 for adults and $5 for those 18 and under. The fees help OMSA, a non-profit organization, to defray the costs of holding the convention.
At past conventions, the public could view historical items such as German Kaiser Wilhelm II?s orders and medals, rare medals from Scott?s Antarctic Expedition, medals awarded for the famous ?Charge of the Light Brigade? in the Crimean War, medals issued for valor at Pearl Harbor, as well as medals for virtually any famous action or event over the last 200 years.
This year?s convention in Houston will also have similar historically significant exhibits such as Joe DiMaggio?s Medal of Freedom awarded by President Ford, the highest ranking medal awarded to civilians in the United States.
The Orders and Medals Society of America was founded by a small group of dedicated American collectors in March 1950 and has evolved into the largest society in America devoted to world-wide orders, decorations and medals. The society is now about 1,500 members strong.
Anyone interested may join OMSA at the convention for a membership fee of $35 per year. Members receive the society journal, a bi-monthly publication.
The Southern California Orders & Medals Society is welcoming new members. For more information, contact Frank Draskovic, SOCALOMS president, at fdraskovic@hotmail.com.
For more information on OMSA or the 2007 convention, visit www.omsa.org.
