Maltese Cross-Shaped Badge/Medal Pin, Womans Relief Corps

This is a combination badge or medal pin with red, white & blue ribbon.  The white part of the ribbon has the beginning of a very short split inside the fold of cloth.  The cloth has very minor darkening.  The entire pin measures approximately 3 1/8" long.   The metal top of the pin is 1 1/2" wide, the ribbon is approximately 1 1/8" long, the cross-shaped medal is 1 1/8".  The ribbon is hand-stitched with white thread on the reverse side; I do not know if this is original or not.  The reverse side of the cross is marked "Patented May 1 and Sept. 28, 1896".  The Womans Relief Corps is Auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic.