Medals, decorations, and orders are honors that are awarded to people for bravery, merit, or service. These honors are generally given by, or in the name of, a monarch or head of state. People granted such honors receive a badge that may be worn or displayed. In most cases, the badges are suspended from a ribbon. The designs and colors of the ribbon usually symbolize the national colors of a country or such characteristics as virtue or bravery.
Medals
are usually round and bear the likeness of a head of state or other symbol surrounded by an inscription. Most medals are made of gold, silver, or bronze. Medals generally hang from a ribbon. Medals are usually presented for participation in a campaign, long service, or good conduct. An example of a medal is the United States Navy Civil War campaign medal.
Decorations
are usually in the shape of a cross or star, suspended from a ribbon. They are usually given in wartime for a single act of outstanding gallantry. In the military, decorations are generally more important than medals. The Victoria Cross of the United Kingdom is an example of a decoration.
Orders
have a variety of shapes, but stars and crosses are used most frequently. The most common type of cross is the Maltese cross. Its four arms have V-shaped ends. Traditionally, orders have been exclusive societies with a limited membership determined by the head of state. In countries where orders exist, membership is generally considered the highest possible degree of honor. The United States and Switzerland are among the few countries that do not have orders. The British Order of the Garter is an example of an order.
United States medals and decorations
Military awards.
During the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, the idea of medals and decorations was unpopular in the United States because it was associated with customs of the European upper classes. As a result, no general system of military medals or decorations was organized until the Civil War. However, a few individual awards were granted during the Revolutionary War. George Washington received the first American medal. In 1776, Congress gave him a gold medal for forcing the British to abandon Boston.
In 1782, Washington established the Purple Heart, formally called the Badge of Military Merit. This badge, which consisted of a heart made of purple cloth, was awarded to Revolutionary War soldiers for military merit. The modern Purple Heart, established in 1932, is given to members of the armed forces who have been wounded or killed in action.
During the Civil War, Congress authorized the first permanent U.S. military medal or decoration—the Medal of Honor. Today this award, often called the Congressional Medal of Honor, is the highest military decoration that the United States grants to members of its armed forces. Congress approved the Navy Medal of Honor in 1861, and the Army Medal of Honor in 1862. Originally, the Army Medal of Honor was awarded only to noncommissioned officers and privates. Beginning in 1863, this honor was also given to officers. The Air Force Medal of Honor was approved by Congress in 1963. Before then, Air Force personnel received the Army Medal of Honor because the Air Force was originally part of the Army.
Campaign medals, also known as war service medals, have been awarded to all ranks of the military for service in every war fought by the United States from the Civil War to the present. The first campaign medal approved by Congress was the Manila Bay Medal, also called the Dewey Medal. This medal was awarded in 1898 to members of the Navy and Marine Corps who took part in the battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. The U.S. War Department authorized the Army Civil War Campaign Medal in 1907—42 years after the conflict ended.
Civilian awards.
Congress established the gold and silver Treasury Department Lifesaving Medals in 1874. They are awarded by the Coast Guard for extreme and heroic daring in rescue at sea.
In 1904, Andrew Carnegie established the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. The commission provides awards in North America and Western Europe for saving or attempting to save lives. Carnegie Medals have been awarded in gold, silver, and bronze.
The Department of Justice awards the Young American Medal for Bravery and the Young American Medal for Service. Only two of each of these medals can be awarded each year. They are given to young people under the age of 19.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awards the Distinguished Service Medal to astronauts or any other federal employees who have made a great contribution to aeronautical or space exploration. Astronauts are also eligible for the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
The Presidential Citizens Medal is occasionally awarded to distinguished U.S. citizens. Recipients have included composer Irving Berlin and comedian Bob Hope. The Defense of Freedom medal primarily honors civilian Department of Defense employees injured or killed in the line of duty. Another medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is one of the nation’s highest civilian honors. It is awarded by the President for outstanding service. Congress awards the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the nation’s highest honors, for distinguished achievements and contributions. This award was originally given only to military leaders. It is now also awarded to civilian individuals and groups.
Other awards.
Most of the states give members of their National Guard medals and decorations that resemble federal military awards. Some cities, schools, associations, and foundations award decorations.
The Constitution forbids U.S. citizens who work for the federal government to accept foreign decorations without the consent of Congress. Congress has passed special laws authorizing specified people to accept decorations awarded by another country.
Foreign orders and decorations
Medals and decorations are awarded by nearly every country in the world. Most nations have national orders of merit. The highest awards for valor or service in some countries are the grand orders of knighthood. New systems of awards have developed as kingdoms have been replaced by other forms of government. Many former colonies that are now independent also have set up their own systems of awards.
The Americas.
Mexico awards the Order of the Aztec Eagle to foreigners who have given distinguished service to Mexico. Bolivia’s highest award is the National Order of the Condor of the Andes. It is given to foreigners and Bolivian citizens for exceptional civil or military merit. Peru awards the Order of the Sun of Peru to Peruvians and foreigners for distinguished service in civilian or military affairs.
Europe.
The Victoria Cross is the highest honor in Britain. Queen Victoria instituted this award in 1856. It is usually given to members of the military for a single act of extreme heroism. Britain’s Royal Humane Society is probably the world’s best-known lifesaving society. Each year, this society grants numerous medals for lifesaving. France’s highest award is the Legion of Honor. This award was instituted by Emperor Napoleon I in 1802. It is given to foreigners and French citizens for gallantry or civil achievement. The Legion of Honor was the first order based solely on merit and was open to all citizens. One of the oldest European awards is Denmark’s Order of the Dannebrog. It was established in 1219 and revived in 1671. It is given to Danes and foreigners for distinguished service in civilian and military affairs.
Middle East.
Lebanon gives the National Order of the Cedar to foreigners and to Lebanese for exceptional service or for acts of extreme courage. Egypt’s highest award is the Order of the Nile. This award is given to Egyptian citizens and foreigners for distinguished military or civilian service. Israel gives the Medal for Valor to members of the Israeli military who have performed acts of supreme heroism.
Africa.
Gabon awards the Order of the Equatorial Star for acts of courage or devotion to duty and for contributions to the work of the country. Kenya awards the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya to citizens of Kenya and foreigners who have performed exceptional service to the country. Morocco’s highest award is the Order of Muhammad. This award is given to members of the royal family, foreign heads of state, and civil and military leaders for exceptional service to Morocco. Malawi gives the Order of the Lion of Malawi to foreigners and citizens of Malawi who have performed distinguished and outstanding service to Malawi. The Order of the Pioneers of Liberia is Liberia’s award for exceptional service to Liberia in the arts, science, or government, as well as for heroism.
Australia and Asia.
Australia’s highest award is the Order of Australia. It is given to Australians and foreigners for outstanding civil or military merit. India awards the Bharat Ratna (Jewel of India) to Indian citizens who have done exceptional work in art, literature, science, or public service. Thailand’s greatest honor is the Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri. Membership is limited to 43 people who have done outstanding service to Thailand. The Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, Japan’s highest award, is given to Japanese royalty, nobility, and foreign heads of state.
History
Since the beginning of history, monarchs and heads of state have rewarded individuals for bravery and merit. The ancient Greeks rewarded military and athletic heroes with wreaths made of laurel leaves. The tradition of the wreath has had a lasting influence. Today, many medals have an image of a laurel wreath around an inscription or the bust (sculpted head) of a head of state.
The ancient Romans crowned their heroes with gold laurel wreaths. Gold collars, chains, medallions, and arm rings were also awarded for outstanding bravery. The most significant award was the phalera, a gold or silver disk formed into the head of a god, man, or animal. These awards were given for bravery in battle and represented an early stage in the development of breast stars and chest decorations.
Knights of the Middle Ages formed orders. Each order had a distinctive badge showing the order’s symbol. A knight wore the badge on a chain around his neck. Knights also received medals of gold, silver, or bronze. These round medals were meant for display on a table.
The first ribboned medals, similar to today’s medals, appeared in Austria and Russia in the 1600’s. Most of these medals celebrated participation in famous battles and were generally awarded only to military officers.
By the mid-1800’s, almost every country in Europe had at least one order for merit. Orders were created to reward merit in many fields, including the arts, science, and agriculture, as well as military and civil merit. During the late 1800’s, trade and the expansion of colonial empires led many countries to adopt awards systems based on those of Western Europe.
