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Category: Star

The Star of Courage

The Star of Courage (Étoile du Courage in French) is a decoration established on 1 May 1972 and  the second highest award for bravery within the Canadian system of honors. Queen Elizabeth II, on the advice of her Cabinet under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, created the Star of Courage to recognize acts of great bravery. 

The medal is presented to both living and deceased individuals deemed to have performed “acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril” and grants recipients the ability to use post-nominal letters SC (for Anglophones) and EC (for Francophones). 

Any person, living or deceased, may be nominated for the Star of Courage. It’s not necessary for the person who carried out the act be a Canadian.

The Star of Courage Design

The badge is a 38 millimeters (1.5 in) wide silver compass star Celeste with a maple leaf in each angle.

On the obverse is a gold roundel bearing a maple leaf surrounded by a laurel wreath. The reverse bears on the upper arm the Royal Cypher of the reigning monarch beneath a St. Edward’s Crown, symbolizing the Canadian monarch’s role as the fount of honor, and the inscription COURAGE. Below this is engraved the name and rank of the recipient.

Mean wear the medallion on the left chest, on a 38 millimeters (1.5 in) wide, red with two vertical blue stripes ribbon. Women, on a ribbon bow and pinned to the left chest.

The Star of Military Valor (Canada)

The Star of Military Valor (SMV) is a decoration presented to members of the Canadian Forces for distinguished and valiant service.

The Star of Military Valor (Étoile de la vaillance militaire in French) is a decoration established on 2 February 1993 and presented to members of the Canadian Forces for distinguished and valiant service.

Within the Canadian system of honors, the Star of Military Valor is the second highest award for military valor, and one of three honors for military valor gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council. Recipients receive the ability to use the post-nominal letters SMV.

The Order is presented to both living and deceased members of the Canadian Forces who have demonstrated “distinguished and valiant service in the presence of the enemy“.

The Star of Military Valor Design

The Order is a gold star with four points with a maple leaf in each of the angles.

On the obverse, superimposed in the center, is a gold maple leaf on a sanguine field surrounded by a silver wreath of laurel. On the reverse is a Royal Cypher and Crown and the inscription “PRO VALORE”. Below hem is engraved the rank and name of the recipient.

The ribbon is crimson and measures 32 millimeters in width. It has two vertical white stripes 4 mm in width each. The Star is suspended by means of a plain gold link. The bar is a plain gold bar with a maple leaf in the center.

The Alberta Order of Excellence

The Alberta Order of Excellence (or Ordre d’excellence de l’Alberta in French) is a civilian honor for merit in the Canadian province of Alberta. The Order was instituted in 1979 and is intended to honor current or former Alberta residents for conspicuous achievements in any field. it’s described as the highest honor amongst all others conferred by the Canadian Crown in right of Alberta.

Canadian citizenship is a requirement and only 10 people may be inducted each year. The process of finding qualified individuals begins with submissions from the public to the Council of the Alberta Order of Excellence.

The Alberta Order of Excellence Design

Members of the Order are presented with an insignia. The main emblem of the Alberta Order of Excellence is a 51 millimeters (2.0 in) wide gold cross pattée medallion with the equidistant arms consisting of a transparent blue enamel over gold patterned to resemble prairie wheat.

One the obverse, the cross is layered between a burnished gold disk bearing roses and rose leaves, and another roundel with the coat of arms of Alberta on a red enamel background, surrounded by a white circle bearing the inscription “The Alberta Order of Excellence”. On the reverse is a maple leaf supported by a sheaf of wheat.

The ribbon is patterned with vertical stripes in blue, burgundy, white, and gold, reflecting the colors of the provincial coat of arms. Men wear the medallion suspended from the ribbon at the collar, and women on a ribbon bow at the left chest. 

The Saskatchewan Order of Merit

The Saskatchewan Order of Merit (Ordre du Mérite de la Saskatchewan in French) is a a civilian honor instituted in 1985 for merit in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honor current or former Saskatchewan residents who have demonstrated a high level of individual excellence and achievement in any field, improving the “social, cultural and economic well-being of the province and its residents”.

The process of finding qualified individuals begins with call for nominations put out each spring by the Saskatchewan Honors Advisory Council.

The Saskatchewan Order of Merit Design

Members of the Order are presented with the insignia at a ceremony held either at Government House in Regina or at a venue in Saskatoon.

The main emblem of the order is a silver medallion in the form of a six pointed star, an abstract rendition of a western red lilly, the province’s official flower.

The obverse is coated in white enamel and bears the escutcheon of Her Majesty’s Arms in right of Saskatchewan within a circular ribbon that displays the provincial motto—Multis E Gentibus Vires (From many peoples strength). This is topped by a St. Edward’s Crown symbolizing the Canadian monarch’s role as the fount of honor.

This ribbon is green-gold-green with a vertical striped pattern. It’s held at the collar for men, and on a bow pinned at the left chest for women. 

The Order of Academic Palms

The Order of Academic Palms is a Senegalese medal established on 23 December 1974. It has three ranks: Commander, Officer and Chevalier.

The Order of Academic Palms is a Senegalese medal established on 23 December 1974 and awarded for contributions to national education and culture.

The Order has three ranks:

  • Commander
  • Officer
  • Chevalier.

The ribbon is purple with a yellow central stripe.

The National Order of Merit (Senegal)

The National Order of Merit is an Order from Senegal instituted in 1960. It has a green ribbon with a narrow yellow central stripe.

The National Order of Merit is a Senegalese medal instituted on 22 October 1960 and awarded to national and foreign citizens, within military and civil spheres, for meritorious service to the Republic of Senegal.

The Order has the following five ranks:

  • Order of Merit - Grand Cross (Senegal) - ribbon bar.png Grand Cross
  • Order of Merit - Grand Officer (Senegal) - ribbon bar.png Grand Officer
  • Order of Merit - Commander (Senegal) - ribbon bar.png Commander
  • Order of Merit - Officer (Senegal) - ribbon bar.png Officer
  • Order of Merit - Knight (Senegal) - ribbon bar.png Knight

The ribbon of the National Order of Merit is green with a narrow yellow central stripe.

The National Order of the Lion

The National Order of the Lion is an Order from Senegal instituted in 1960 and awarded for both civil and military contributions.

The National Order of the Lion is an Order from Senegal instituted on 22 October 1960 and awarded for both civil and military distinguished contributions.

The order is one of two Senegalese national orders, the other one being the Order of Merit. Because this Order is awarded only sparingly, the other one was established to recognize contributions that would otherwise be neglected.

The Grand Master of the order is the President of Senegal and chairs the Council of the Order composed of ten people. The Grand Chancellery of the order is under the Protocol Division of the Cabinet of Senegal.

The order has five classes:

  • SEN Order of the Lion - Grand Cross BAR.png Grand Cross (grand-croix)
  • SEN Order of the Lion - Grand Officer BAR.png Grand Officer (grand officer)
  • SEN Order of the Lion - Commander BAR.png Commander (commander)
  • SEN Order of the Lion - Officer BAR.png Officer (officer)
  • SEN Order of the Lion - Knight BAR.png Knight (chevalier).

Membership in the order is limited to 25 Grand Crosses, 100 Grand Officers, 200 Commanders, 1,000 Officers, and 5,000 Knights, excluding foreign members.

The National Order of the Lion Design

The insignia is manufactured by Arthus-Bertrand in Paris.

The obverse bears the words “République du Sénégal (“Republic of Senegal”) and the Senegalese national motto in French: “Un Peuple, Un But, Une Foi” (“One People, One Goal, One Faith“). The ribbon is green.

The Kenyan Silver Star

The Kenyan Silver Star was instituted on 8 December 1983 and is awarded to members of the uniformed services for conspicuous acts of valor.

The Kenyan Silver Star was instituted on 8 December 1983 and is awarded to members of the uniformed services for conspicuous acts of valor, self-sacrifice, or devotion to duty in the face of danger.

The medal is a cupro-nickel, 18.7 mm (0.74 inches) five-pointed star and bears the arms of the Republic of Kenya on the obverse. The reverse is plain. 

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The Order of Diplomatic Service Merit

The Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (수교훈장 in Korean) is one of South Korea’s orders of merit and one of the highest civilian awards of South Korea. The Order is awarded by the President of South Korea for “outstanding meritorious services in the interest of enhancing national prestige and promoting amity with allies.”

The Order was instituted on 25 July 1963 and amended in 1967. It is a relatively rare honor. It’s usually awarded to only a handful of people every year, usually to foreign officials or ambassadors for significant contributions in strengthening friendly relations with the Republic of Korea.

The Order of Diplomatic Service Merit is divided into 5 grades, with the first grade containing two classes (the higher of which is reserved for the most high-ranking diplomats):

  • Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (Class 1) Grand Gwanghwa Medal ribbon.gif 1st Grand Gwanghwa Medal (광화대장)
    Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (Class 2) Gwanghwa Medal ribbon.gif 1st Gwanghwa Medal (광화장)
  • Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (Class 3) Heung-In Medal ribbon.gif 2nd Heungin Medal (흥인장)
  • Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (Class 4) Sungrye Medal ribbon.gif 3rd Sungnye Medal (숭례장)
  • Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (Class 5) Chang-Eui Medal ribbon.gif 4th Changui Medal (창의장)
  • Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (Class 6) Sugjeong Medal ribbon.gif 5th Sukjeong Medal (숙정장)

The Order of Diplomatic Service Merit Design

The insignia of the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit is worn affixed to sash worn over the shoulder.

The Order of National Security Merit

The Order of National Security Merit is one of South Korea’s Orders of Merit, given for distinguished service to national security.

The Order of National Security Merit (보국훈장 in Korean) is one of South Korea’s Orders of Merit. The Order is considered primarily as a military award. It was instituted in 1967 and conferred by the President of South Korea on individuals who have rendered distinguished service to national security, or for “outstanding meritorious services in the interest of national security.”

The Order is divided into five grades:

  • Tong-il Security Medel Ribbon.svg 1st Tongil Medal (통일장)
  • Gugseon Security Medal Ribbon.png 2nd Gukseon Medal (국선장)
  • Cheon-Su Security Medal Ribbon.png 3rd Cheonsu Medal (천수장)
  • Sam IL Security Medal Ribbon.png 4th Samil Medal (삼일장)
  • Gwangbog Security Medal Ribbon.png 5th Gwangbok Medal (광복장)

The Order of National Security Merit Design

The insignia of the Order is a four-piece construction, struck in silver gilt and decorated with red and white enamels. It measures 2.7 mm x 78.5 mm inclusive of its dragon head suspension.

The neck ribbon is white with four thin red stripes on each side and has a slotted tab closure.