Block, SkipCaptcha, Automoderated users, edit
2,206
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 3:
Line 3: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Line 14:
Line 34: − :''"The General ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of Military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings over the left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth, or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding. Not only instances of unusual gallantry, but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way shall meet with a due reward."''[http://www1.va.gov/opa/feature/celebrate/purple-heart.asp]+ Line 23:
Line 43: + + + + + + Line 36:
Line 62: − |} − Secretary Welles delegated the crafting and design of the medal to James Pollock, Director of the [[United States Mint]], who in turn delegated responsibility for the actual design to artist Christian Schuller. The medal was cast from bronze in the shape of an inverted star; within the center is the Roman goddess [[Minerva]], bearing the shield of the Union of the states in her right hand, and the ''[[fasces]]'' - ancient Roman symbol of authority - in her left. She is repulsing the figure of Discord, who was shown crouching with snakes in his hand. Pollock referred to Discord as "the foul spirit of secession and rebellion" in a letter he sent to Welles. Circling the figures were thirty-four stars, representing the Union of states prior to the secession. − − The Navy version of the medal was suspended from an anchor; the Army's version was suspended from an eagle over the word "VALOR"; both were hung from a red, white, and blue ribbon representing the flag. − − The present Medal of Honor reflects changes made to the design during the period of the [[First World War]]. The striped ribbon was replaced by a blue field bearing 13 stars, but it remained a "pin-on" medal until [[World War II]], when the pin-clasp was replaced with a rounded pad suspended from a blue silk neck ribbon. A change was made to the star as well: the Army replaced the central figures with a profile of the head of Minerva; and when the newly-created United States Air Force had theirs, they chose the profile of the head of Liberty. Both added a green wreath of laurel around the star. The Navy retained the original design. − − {| border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="700" style="margin-left:5px" − |align="center" colspan="2"| − |- − !colspan="2" align="center" style="color: black; height: 30px; background: lightblue no-repeat scroll top left;"|Historical Medals of Honor − |- − ! Medal!!Remarks − |- valign="center" − | [[File:Navy Medal of Honor 1862.jpg|100px]]||Original, 1862 design of the Navy's version. − |- − | [[File:308px-Medal of honor old.jpg|100px]]||Original, 1862 design of the Army's version. − |- − | [[File:MOH 1896.jpg|100px]]||Non-military organizations creating unauthorized copies of the Medal of Honor led to Joint Resolution of Congress, Fifty-Fourth Congress, Sess. I, on May 2, 1896, which caused a slight change in design, principally with the ribbon. A bowknot (rosette) was also adopted, to be worn on occassions in lieu of the medal. − |- − | [[File:MOH WWI.jpg|100px]]||The '''Gillespie version''', reflecting the changes authorized by the Army and Congress in 1904. Designed by Major General George L. Gillespie, the new version included the replacement of the central portrait for the profile of Minerva, the encirclement of the star with a laurel wreath, and a change to the ribbon. − |- − | [[File:TifanyCrossMOH.jpg|100px]]||The '''Tiffany Cross''' was a version of the Medal of Honor awarded in cases of non-combat heroism. Authorized by the United States Navy in 1919 and cast by the renowned jewler and glassmaker [[Louis Comfort Tiffany]] of New York, the "Tiffany Cross" was abandoned in 1942 due to its unpopularity. − |- − |
image shifts; finding a balance to text and images flow well.
==Criteria==
==Criteria==
{| border="1" align="right" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="400" style="margin-left:5px"
|align="center" colspan="2"|
|-
!colspan="2" align="center" style="color: black; height: 30px; background: lightblue no-repeat scroll top left;"|Historical Medals of Honor
|-
! Medal!!Remarks
|- valign="center"
| [[File:Navy Medal of Honor 1862.jpg|100px]]||Original, 1862 design of the Navy's version.
|-
| [[File:308px-Medal of honor old.jpg|100px]]||Original, 1862 design of the Army's version.
|-
| [[File:MOH 1896.jpg|100px]]||Non-military organizations creating unauthorized copies of the Medal of Honor led to Joint Resolution of Congress, Fifty-Fourth Congress, Sess. I, on May 2, 1896, which caused a slight change in design, principally with the ribbon. A bowknot (rosette) was also adopted, to be worn on occassions in lieu of the medal.
|-
| [[File:MOH WWI.jpg|100px]]||The '''Gillespie version''', reflecting the changes authorized by the Army and Congress in 1904. Designed by Major General George L. Gillespie, the new version included the replacement of the central portrait for the profile of Minerva, the encirclement of the star with a laurel wreath, and a change to the ribbon.
|-
| [[File:TifanyCrossMOH.jpg|100px]]||The '''Tiffany Cross''' was a version of the Medal of Honor awarded in cases of non-combat heroism. Authorized by the United States Navy in 1919 and cast by the renowned jewler and glassmaker [[Louis Comfort Tiffany]] of New York, the "Tiffany Cross" was abandoned in 1942 due to its unpopularity.
|-
|}
The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves conspiciously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty
The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves conspiciously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty
*while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;
*while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;
== History ==
== History ==
While engaged in the fight for American independence, General [[George Washington]] felt a need to recognize the valor of individual soldiers on the battlefield. From his headquarters in Newburgh, New York on August 7, 1782, Washington wrote:
While engaged in the fight for American independence, General [[George Washington]] felt a need to recognize the valor of individual soldiers on the battlefield. From his headquarters in Newburgh, New York on August 7, 1782, Washington wrote:
{{cquote|The General ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of Military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings over the left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth, or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding. Not only instances of unusual gallantry, but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way shall meet with a due reward.[http://www1.va.gov/opa/feature/celebrate/purple-heart.asp]}}
He further wrote that the issuing of the award must be grounded in "incontestible proofs" as to the valor of the man receiving it, ''"accompanied with certificates from the Commanding officers of the regiment and brigade"''. Only three men received what was then known as the "Badge of Military Merit" before it fell into disuse for nearly 150 years; resurrected by General [[Douglas MacArthur]] in 1932, it became - with slight changes - the [[Purple Heart]].
He further wrote that the issuing of the award must be grounded in "incontestible proofs" as to the valor of the man receiving it, ''"accompanied with certificates from the Commanding officers of the regiment and brigade"''. Only three men received what was then known as the "Badge of Military Merit" before it fell into disuse for nearly 150 years; resurrected by General [[Douglas MacArthur]] in 1932, it became - with slight changes - the [[Purple Heart]].
==Description==
==Description==
Secretary Welles delegated the crafting and design of the medal to James Pollock, Director of the [[United States Mint]], who in turn delegated responsibility for the actual design to artist Christian Schuller. The medal was cast from bronze in the shape of an inverted star; within the center is the Roman goddess [[Minerva]], bearing the shield of the Union of the states in her right hand, and the ''[[fasces]]'' - ancient Roman symbol of authority - in her left. She is repulsing the figure of Discord, who was shown crouching with snakes in his hand. Pollock referred to Discord as "the foul spirit of secession and rebellion" in a letter he sent to Welles. Circling the figures were thirty-four stars, representing the Union of states prior to the secession.
The Navy version of the medal was suspended from an anchor; the Army's version was suspended from an eagle over the word "VALOR"; both were hung from a red, white, and blue ribbon representing the flag.
The present Medal of Honor reflects changes made to the design during the period of the [[First World War]]. The striped ribbon was replaced by a blue field bearing 13 stars, but it remained a "pin-on" medal until [[World War II]], when the pin-clasp was replaced with a rounded pad suspended from a blue silk neck ribbon. A change was made to the star as well: the Army replaced the central figures with a profile of the head of Minerva; and when the newly-created United States Air Force had theirs, they chose the profile of the head of Liberty. Both added a green wreath of laurel around the star. The Navy retained the original design.
{| border="1" align="center" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="700" style="margin-left:5px"
{| border="1" align="center" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="700" style="margin-left:5px"
|align="center" colspan="3"|
|align="center" colspan="3"|
| [[File:Moh airforce.jpg|center|200px]]
| [[File:Moh airforce.jpg|center|200px]]
|-
|-
|}
|}