Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor

Last updated
Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor
Mov hi-res.jpg
TypeMedal
Awarded for"Actions above and beyond the call of duty; and exhibiting exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind; or an unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life."
Presented bythe President of the United States
Eligibility
StatusActive
Established Executive Order 13161, June 29, 2000
First awarded2001
Total70 [1] [2]
Total awarded posthumously9 [1] [2]
Total recipients108 [1] [2]
Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Ribbon.svg
Ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher) Presidential Citizens Medal
Next (lower) President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service

The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor is the highest decoration for bravery exhibited by public safety officers in the United States, comparable to the military's Medal of Honor.

Contents

History

President Donald Trump presents the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor in the East Room of the White House in May 2019 President Trump Presents the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor (47926532642).jpg
President Donald Trump presents the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor in the East Room of the White House in May 2019

The original Medal of Valor was established on June 29, 2000 by President Bill Clinton with his issuance of Executive Order 13161 and was originally called the Presidential Medal of Valor for Public Safety Officers. [3]

This award was later superseded to its current form with the enactment of the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act of 2001 (Pub. L.   107–12 (text) (PDF), 115  Stat.   20, H.R. 802, May 30, 2001). It is still awarded and presented by the President of the United States but now it is done in the name of the United States Congress as recommended by the eleven-member Medal of Valor Review Board. The Attorney General no longer makes recommendations directly to the President but can provide input into the process via the Department of Justice's National Medal of Valor Office's support of the Review Board. The medal can still be awarded posthumously.

Before the establishment of the Medal of Valor, there were no Federal awards to specifically acknowledge the bravery performed by public safety officers throughout the United States; police and firefighting departments typically award their members medals at a state or local government level. The establishment of the Medal of Valor filled a huge void in the civilian decorations system of the United States, which was all the more timely given the catastrophe in New York City the following year during the September 11 attacks. The 442 public safety officers killed at World Trade Center and The Pentagon that day were awarded the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor, a similar but separate award.

Symbolism

The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor, which intentionally resembles the military's Medal of Honor, is a gilt, blue-enameled, five-pointed, upside-down star (i.e. one arm points downwards), with each arm formed by a letter "V" (for Valor), surrounded by a wreath of laurel. The central disc bears the obverse of the Great Seal of the United States. The reverse bears the legend "FOR EXTRAORDINARY VALOR ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY", with the name of the recipient engraved at the center. The medal is suspended on a gilt disc bearing a letter "V" surrounded by a wreath of laurels, which is in turn suspended on a neck ribbon, blue with white and red edge stripes, the national colors of the United States, and a gold center stripe, symbolizing honor.

When the ribbon alone is worn, it carries a miniature gold gilt disc bearing a letter "V" surrounded by a wreath of laurels. There is also a lapel pin, which is the miniature of the medal without suspension.

As the award is presented by the President, the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act of 2001 also repealed the previously awarded President's Award For Outstanding Public Safety Service (President's Award) and revised the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to remove the President's Award but keep the Secretary's Award For Distinguished Public Safety Service, which is an honorary award presented by the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the Attorney General for the recognition of outstanding and distinguished service by public safety officers. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legion of Merit</span> Military award of the United States Armed Forces

The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight uniformed services of the United States as well as to military and political figures of foreign governments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legion of Honour</span> Highest French order of merit

The National Order of the Legion of Honour, formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour, is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, it has been retained by all later French governments and regimes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Certificate of Merit Medal</span> Award

The Certificate of Merit Medal was a military decoration of the United States Army that was issued between the years of 1905 and 1918. The Certificate of Merit Medal replaced the much older Certificate of Merit which was authorized by the United States Congress on March 3, 1847.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States law enforcement decorations</span>

United States law enforcement decorations are awarded by the police forces of the United States of America. Since the United States has a decentralized police force, with separate independent departments existing on the state and local level, there are thousands of law enforcement decorations in existence.

The New York City Police Department Medal of Honor is the highest law enforcement medal of the New York City Police Department. The Medal of Honor is awarded for individual acts of extraordinary bravery performed in the line of duty at extreme risk and danger to life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidential Citizens Medal</span> Award bestowed by the President of the United States

The Presidential Citizens Medal is an award bestowed by the President of the United States. It is the second-highest civilian award in the United States and is second only to the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Established by executive order on November 13, 1969, by President Richard Nixon, it recognizes an individual "who has performed exemplary deeds or services for his or her country or fellow citizens." Only United States citizens are eligible for the medal, which may be awarded posthumously.

Awards and decorations of the United States Department of the Air Force are military decorations which are issued by the Department of the Air Force to airmen of the United States Air Force and guardians of the United States Space Force and members of other military branches serving under Air Force and Space Force commands.

Awards and decorations of the United States government are civilian awards of the U.S. federal government which are typically issued for sustained meritorious service, in a civilian capacity, while serving in the U.S. federal government. Certain U.S. government awards may also be issued to military personnel of the United States Armed Forces and be worn in conjunction with awards and decorations of the United States military. In order of precedence, those U.S. non-military awards and decorations authorized for wear are worn after U.S. military personal decorations and unit awards and before U.S. military campaign and service awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Order of the Tower and Sword</span> State order of Portugal

The Ancient and Most Noble Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword, of the Valour, Loyalty and Merit, before 1910 Royal Military Order of the Tower and Sword, is a Portuguese order of knighthood and the pinnacle of the Portuguese honours system. It was created by King Afonso V in 1459. The order may be bestowed on people or on Portuguese municipalities. Private Anibal Milhais was the only Portuguese Army private to be awarded the Order of the Tower and the Sword for Valor, for his actions in Lys, Belgium during World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor</span> Military honor awarded by the Philippine government

The Medal of Valor is the Armed Forces of the Philippines' highest military honor awarded for a conspicuous deed of personal bravery or self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty that distinguishes the recipient from his comrades. It is defined in the Philippine Army Awards and Decorations reference material FC 1–0062, itself adapted from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Awards and Decorations Handbook, Second Edition published in 1997, as an award for "heroism in combat" and is foremost in the order of precedence of awards and decorations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor is a decoration in the United States, created specifically to honor the 442 public safety officers who were killed in the line of duty during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and the empty wing of The Pentagon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military decorations of Mexico</span>

This is a list of military decorations awarded by the United Mexican States as part of the Mexican Honours System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Badge of Honour of the Bundeswehr</span> Award

The Decorations of Honour of the Bundeswehr are a series of military decorations of the Bundeswehr, the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. These honours and awards were introduced in 1980 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Bundeswehr by then Minister of Defence Hans Apel and subsequently approved by President of the Federal Republic Karl Carstens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honoris Crux Gold</span> South African military decoration for bravery

The Honoris Crux Gold, post-nominal letters HCG, is a South African military decoration for bravery which was instituted in 1975. It was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for outstanding acts of bravery while in extreme danger. It was the second most senior in a set of four classes of Honoris Crux decorations which replaced the discontinued Honoris Crux of 1952.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reserve Force Decoration</span> Award

The Reserve Force Decoration is an Australian Military award given for long service by officers of the Reserve Forces. It is part of the suite of defence force service awards introduced in 1982, which also included the Defence Force Service Medal and the Reserve Force Medal. However, the RFD is the only one of the three to carry a postnominal entitlement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Merit Medal (Austria-Hungary)</span> Award

The Military Merit Medal was a military decoration of the Empire of Austria-Hungary. It was founded by Emperor Franz Joseph I on March 12, 1890. The Military Merit Medal is often referred to as the "Signum Laudis" after the inscription on the reverse of the medal.

The Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal, originally established as a Sardinian award. It is awarded to military personnel, units above the level of company, and civilians for exceptional valor in the face of the enemy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal</span> Award

The Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal is an honor award presented to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and to members of any Uniformed Services of the United States whose accomplishments or achievements are of outstanding or unique significance to the missions of the Corps. This is the highest award presented by the United States Public Health Service. It is the highest decoration of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medal of Honor</span> Highest award in the United States Armed Forces

The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The medal is normally awarded by the president of the United States, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and is presented "in the name of the United States Congress," it is sometimes referred to as the "Congressional Medal of Honor". The Secretary of the Army, on behalf of DoD, has testified to Congress that the term "Congressional Medal of Honor" is "incorrect" as a matter of statute, and that "it seems inappropriate to modify the name of the medal with the word 'Congressional' as each award is made in the name of the Congress," through a mandated process in the military chain of command, not 'by' Congress, and there is no other Medal of Honor, so no need for the modifier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Law Enforcement Medal of Honor</span> Award

The Washington Law Enforcement Medal of Honor is the only state decoration issued by the state of Washington to law enforcement officers, and is established by the Revised Code of Washington.. Washington law does not describe an order of precedence for state decorations and the Washington Law Enforcement Medal of Honor is not customarily placed in relation to other state decorations.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bureau of Justice Assistance: Medal of Valor". Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, USDOJ. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  2. 1 2 3 "VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN AND ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER HONOR 18 PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS WITH MEDAL OF VALOR" (PDF). Washington, DC: US Department of Justice. February 20, 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  3. Executive Order 13161 of June 29, 2000, Establishment of the Presidential Medal of Valor for Public Safety Officers, Federal Register, Vol. 65, No. 129, Wednesday, July 5, 2000, p. 41543
  4. The government defines "public safety officer" as a person (living or deceased) who serve(d) in a public agency, with or without compensation, as a firefighter, law enforcement officer (including a corrections or court officer, or a civil defense officer), or emergency services officer, as determined by the Attorney General.