- Time Period: Pre-WW1 (related to the Spanish-American War)
- Institution: Around 1908?
- Country: United States
The U.S.S. Brooklyn Medal was a privately issued commemorative medal, presented by the citizens of Brooklyn, New York, to the sailors and Marines who served aboard the armored cruiser USS Brooklyn during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on 3 July 1898.
As Commodore Winfield Scott Schley‘s flagship, Brooklyn played a leading role in the destruction of the Spanish fleet, and the city chose to honor her crew for their bravery. Unlike the Sampson Medal, this was not an official U.S. military award, but a civic tribute.
Design
The bronze medal features an image of the USS Brooklyn under steam, encircled by the inscription “U.S.S. BROOKLYN – SANTIAGO DE CUBA – JULY 3, 1898.” The reverse bears the Dutch motto “Eendracht Maakt Macht” (“Unity Makes Strength“), together with the inscription:
“In Commemoration of Their Heroism at the Destruction of the Spanish Fleet, From the Citizens of Brooklyn to the Men Behind the Guns.“
Each medal was individually named by engraving the recipient’s name on the suspension bar.
