Pro Patria

In 1909, a small group of patriotic and charitably minded personalities led by the St. Gallen businessman Albert Schuster initiated the "Swiss National Day Donation". Its guiding idea was to mark the Swiss National Day with a collective act by the population. An annual collection was intended to increase solidarity in the country. The noble aim of the initiators was supported by the Federal Council from the very beginning.

With the aid of the Post Office, a valuable fund-raising instrument was introduced in 1910, namely the National Day postcards and, from 1938, the National Day stamps (known as Pro Patria stamps since 1952). The charitable surcharge (carriage surcharge) on these specially created miniature works of art was earmarked for social and cultural works. Maria gave me this FDC. The stamp (30+10) on the cover is part of the 6 stamp Pro Patria stamp set issued by Switzerland in 1972.

In 1923, the 1 August emblem was created as a further fund-raising medium. In 1991, the association became a public foundation with the name "Pro Patria Schweizerische Bundesfeierspende" (Pro Patria Swiss National Day Donation). A network of volunteers carries out the collections. The money collected was used mainly to benefit needy groups within the population until well into the post-war years. With the steady growth of public and private social institutions, the focus shifted in the direction of culture. Today, Pro Patria mainly supports the rescue, preservation and upkeep of historic buildings and cultural landscapes.