National hero of Jamaica
National hero of Jamaica (English National Hero ) is the highest honor of the state of Jamaica . The bearers receive the Order of National Hero and the title The Right Excellent .
The medal is part of a five-tier award system, it is awarded exclusively to Jamaicans for "most remarkable service" to the country. This refers to the merits that shaped today's Jamaica.
Five of the seven winners received the medal posthumously , Manley a few days before his death. A memorial was erected to them in National Hero Park in Kingston , and some are buried there. In addition, memorial plaques were placed in various locations such as the Institute of Jamaica. Every third Monday in October there is a memorial day.
The award was created by the National Honors ans Awards Act of 1969, which also determined the first three winners, Paul Bogle , George William Gordon and Marcus Garvey .
The order itself is a fourteen-pointed gold star on a black enamelled medal. On it is the flag of Jamaica and the motto He built a city which hath foundations . The ribbon has the national colors of Jamaica, black, yellow and green.
Previous carriers
- Paul Bogle (* between 1815 and 1820, † 1865, posthumously)
- Alexander Bustamante (* 1884, † 1977)
- Marcus Garvey (* 1887, † 1940, posthumous)
- George William Gordon (* 1820, † 1865, posthumous)
- Norman Washington Manley (* 1893, † 1969)
- Granny Nanny also called "Nanny of the Maroons" (* 1700, † 1740, posthumously)
- Samuel Sharpe (* 1801, † 1832, posthumous)
Web links
- The Jamaican Order System (Engl.)