Military awards and decorations

Award, usually a medal of some sort, mark of honor Wall of Medals in the French Foreign Legion Museum Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion. Civil decorations awarded to military personnel should not be considered military decorations, although some orders of chivalry have civil and military divisions. Decorations received by police and fire brigade personnel may sometimes be considered alongside military decorations, on which they may be modelled, although they are strictly not military awards. Military awards and decorations may take the form of medal ribbons or miniature medals, which are mounted together on a bar known as a barrette. History The I class of the Mannerheim Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty from 1941 Decorations have been known since ancient times. The Egyptian Old Kingdom had the Order of the Golden Collar while the New Kingdom awarded the Order of the Golden Fly. Celts and Romans wore a torc or received other military decorations such as the hasta pura, a spear without a tip. Da