Medal for Merit

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The Medal for Merit (English; "Merit Medal") was the highest civilian award in the United States of America during and after the Second World War . It is no longer awarded today and has been replaced in its rank as the highest civilian honor in the United States by the President's Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor .

history

On December 24, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Ordinance No. 9286 Establishing a Medal of Merit to honor distinguished public servants during World War II . The award was also known as the Presidential Medal for Merit .

It was formally awarded for "particularly meritorious behavior in performing outstanding achievements [...] since the president declared a state of emergency on September 8, 1939".

Civilians of foreign nations could also receive the award for extraordinarily meritorious or courageous deeds or acts performed to further the war effort of the Allies. The statutes were extended on May 27, 1947. After June 30, 1947, no proposals for the award of the award could be submitted, as one of the last Al Jolson was honored with the medal in 1950.

Carrier (selection)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Executive Order 9286  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.archives.gov  
  2. ^ Executive Order 9286 Wikisource
  3. ↑ Executive_Order_9286 Executive Order 9286 Translation; the English original text reads: "exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services [...] since the proclamation of an emergency by the President on September 8, 1939"

Web links