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American civil decoration awarded 1945?1961
Award
The
Medal of Freedom
was a
decoration
established by President
Harry S. Truman
to honor civilians whose actions aided in the war efforts of the United States and its allies during and beyond World War II. It was intended to be awarded by the
secretary of state
, the
secretary of war
, or the
secretary of the navy
, but presidents
Dwight D. Eisenhower
and
John F. Kennedy
also authorized awards.
[3]
The first woman and American citizen to receive it was
Anna M. Rosenberg
by
Robert P. Patterson
on the recommendation of Eisenhower.
[4]
[5]
Description
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The medal is a bronze disc whose obverse features the profile of the
Statue of Freedom
of the
US Capitol Building
, with the word "FREEDOM" in capital letters in an arc at the bottom of the disc. The reverse features the
Liberty Bell
surrounded by the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" in capital letters. The medal is suspended on a red ribbon with four thin white stripes. The original
Executive Order 9586
establishing the medal specified "No more than one Medal of Freedom shall be awarded to any one person, but for a subsequent act or service justifying such an award a suitable device may be awarded to be worn with the medal"
[6]
and bronze, silver, and gold palm devices were produced and awarded. There is no evidence of U.S. citizens having received these palm devices, whereas some non-U.S. citizens did receive them (e.g.
Micheline "Michou" Dumon
,
Nancy Wake
and
Andree de Jongh
), and the devices have been interpreted as signifying degrees of the award.
[7]
[8]
Ribbons
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Without palm
With bronze palm
With silver palm
With gold palm
See also
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References
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External links
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