The Mexican Legion of Honor

• Time Period: Post-WW2
• Institution: 1 February 1949
• Country: Mexico

The modern Mexican Legion of Honor (or Legión de Honor Mexicana in Spanish) is an order of merit awarded to soldiers, veterans, and others who have made outstanding contributions to the national defense, security, or sovereignty of Mexico.

An earlier, post-revolutionary version was organized as a military reserve force, a forerunner to the modern Legion that was founded in 1917 under President Venustiano Carranza to provide an “honorable location for excess officers of the Constitutional Army.” It was available for use as a reserve force in case of national emergency, and also provided training for new recruits.

The modern Mexican Legion of Honor was created in a 1949 decree by President Miguel Alemán Valdés to “honor soldiers during their lifetime” who had contributed to the national defense, or who had contributed in some form to the social achievements enshrined in the Constitution. Eligibility changes included admission for those who had served the country, or completed at least thirty years of active military service.

A 1994 amendment to the original act established some organizational changes, including an official name change to Legión de Honor Militar Mexicana, and added eligibility to those who had “participated in the most preeminent events” of Mexican history, carried out “heroic actions“, or in some way contributed to the military defense of the nation, to guaranteeing national security, or to maintain national sovereignty and independence.

The 1949 reorganization opened the membership first to civilians, and then to women. Although some women were recognized as members, without recognizing either their military rank or their pensions.