Civil decoration
Encyclopedia
A civil decoration is a decoration
awarded to civilians for distinguished service. Military personnel might also be eligible for services of a non-military nature. Purely civilian decorations are relatively few; general purpose orders
with a civilian division are more common.
There are several forms of civil decorations:
On everyday occasions, only miniature insignia, often in the form of a circular rosette
, are normally worn.
State decoration
State decorations are orders, medals and other decorations granted by a state. International decorations are similar, but are not granted by a specific nation but rather an international organization....
awarded to civilians for distinguished service. Military personnel might also be eligible for services of a non-military nature. Purely civilian decorations are relatively few; general purpose orders
Order (decoration)
An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...
with a civilian division are more common.
There are several forms of civil decorations:
- Orders of chivalryOrder (decoration)An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...
, usually in several classes, for distinguished services to the government, the community, the society or humanity. One example would be the BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Order of St. Michael and St. George; - Orders of merit, often in a single class, for distinguished services to the arts, literature or science. Three examples would be the BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Order of MeritOrder of MeritThe Order of Merit is a British dynastic order recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture...
and Order of the Companions of HonourOrder of the Companions of HonourThe Order of the Companions of Honour is an order of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V in June 1917, as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry or religion....
and the US Presidential Medal of FreedomPresidential Medal of FreedomThe Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
; - Decorations of merit for distinguished services in agriculture or industry. This form of decoration , a Socialist Order of MeritSocialist Orders of MeritAfter the October Revolution, in which the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia, the first Socialist Orders of Merit were founded. After World War II, communists came to power in many other countries and this type of order spread all over the world...
, usually in one class , existed mainly in CommunistCommunismCommunism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
states, an example being the Hero of Socialist LaborHero of Socialist LaborHero of Socialist Labour was an honorary title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries. It was the highest degree of distinction for exceptional achievements in national economy and culture...
(USSR); - Bravery awards for civilians (including police and firefighting personnel), in the form of a cross, star or medal on a ribbon. An example would be the BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
George CrossGeorge CrossThe George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
and the American Public Safety Officer Medal of ValorPublic Safety Officer Medal of ValorThe Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor is the highest decoration for bravery performed by public safety officers in the United States, comparable to the military's Medal of Honor.- History :...
; - Awards for distinguished service in the police, firefighting and other services, usually as a medalMedalA medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...
on a ribbon; - Awards for long service in the police, firefighting and other services, usually as a medal on a ribbon.
On everyday occasions, only miniature insignia, often in the form of a circular rosette
Rosette (decoration)
A rosette is a small, circular device that is presented with a medal. The rosettes are primarily for situations where wearing the medal is deemed inappropriate. Rosettes are issued in nations such as France, Italy and Japan...
, are normally worn.
See also
- British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
- Civilian decorations of the United StatesCivilian decorations of the United StatesCivilian decorations of the United States are civil decorations of the United States of America which are bestowed by various agencies of the United States government for acts of accomplishment benefiting the nation as a whole. Contrary to the awards and decorations of the United States military,...
- Military decorationMilitary decorationA military decoration is a decoration given to military personnel or units for heroism in battle or distinguished service. They are designed to be worn on military uniform....
- State decorationState decorationState decorations are orders, medals and other decorations granted by a state. International decorations are similar, but are not granted by a specific nation but rather an international organization....
- OrderOrder (decoration)An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...