The Medal for Long Service

• Time Period: Interwar Period
• Year of Institution: 8 January 1938
• Country: Poland

The Medal for Long Service (or Medal za Długoletnią Służbę in Polish) is a decoration established on January 8, 1938 and awarded in three classes (gold, silver, and bronze) to members of the Polish Armed Forces and other uniformed services, and to civil servants who have honorably completed 30, 20 or 10 years of service to the State.

After the outbreak of the Second World War the conferment was suspended, and after that, the medal was eventually discontinued. In 1951, it was replaced by the Medal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the Fatherland for members of the armed forces. The Medal for Long Service was revived by the Law of 14 June 2007, which amended the Act of 16 October 1992, concerning medals and decorations.

The original medal was awarded by the appointed minister to any member of the armed forces or other uniformed services, or to civilian employees of the government or local government following 30 (gold medal), 20 (silver medal), or 10 years (bronze medal) of continuous or cumulative service. The recipients of the medal were required to make a monetary payment for it.

Since 2007 the medal has been conferred by the President of Poland. Unlike its pre-World War II counterpart, the conferment is not automatic but is decided on an individual basis.

The Medal for Long Service Design

The medal is circular, measures 35 mm in diameter, and is made from gilded, silver-plated or bronze-patined metal.

The obverse depicts a Polish crowned eagle surrounded by rye ears and circumscribed “ZA DŁUGOLETNIĄ SŁUŻBĘ” (“FOR LONG SERVICE“). On the reverse are the Roman numerals “XXX” (30), “XX” (20) or “X” (10), with a laurel spray below.

The same numeral in gold, silver or bronze is attached to the ribbon bar. The ribbon has three stripes in red, white, and red.