The
International
Volunteers Foreign
Service Medal
History/inspiration
for the medal:
Over
the past number of years SHK have been inundated with queries from
Peacekeepers - service and retired - all over the world concerning the
manufacture and issue of a Foreign Service Medal.
Many
of these peacekeepers would have served on "Back to Back"
Peacekeeping / Peace Enforcing Missions with the UN, NATO, or EU and felt
that a visible sign of recognition in the form of a medal combining UN, NATO
and EU Peacekeeping Service would be appropriate.
Because
of the complexities involved I the symbolic fusion of 3 International
Peacekeeping Organisations each with their own individual mandate, modus
operandi and rules of engagement.
The
Medal and Award Board of SHK requested the advice of an International
Peacekeeping, a retired professional soldier and Instructor of Infantry who
had served in 4 different theatres of operations with 3 International
Peacekeeping Organisations SEATO - NATO and UN between the years 1969 and
1990.
His
advice on the portrayal of the self-sacrificing and bravery of the dangers
and fears, of the hardships and loneliness, endured by world peacekeepers on
the symbolism of - is
greatly appreciated by our board.
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Qualifications
for receiving the medal:
You
qualify for the medal if you - as a military or civilian - have done service of 30 days or more in a UN,
NATO or EU Military Mission Area.
If qualifying service is brought to an end
and before the end of 30 days on account of death, or evacuation from the
mission area owing to wounds or other disability then the reduced period of
service will qualify for the award.
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Eligibility:
-
Civilian personnel attached to the above
organisations, i.e. UN Field Service, EU Monitors etc.
-
Civilians attached to UN Agencies, i.e. UNHCR, UNWRA.
-
Members of recognised World Humanitarian Organisations i.e. International Red Cross.
-
Members of recognised World NGO's.
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Other Peacekeeping Organisations:
The following International recognised
Peacekeeping Organisations may apply for - The International Volunteers
Foreign Service Medal:
-
International
Commission for Supervision and Control (ICSC) Indochina/Vietnam 1954 -
1965.
-
Organisations
of American States (OAS) Dominican Republic 1963 - 1966.
-
SEATO
(South East Asia Treaty Organisation 1970
-
Multinational
Forces and Observers (MFO) - Sinai Desert/Egypt 1982
-
Multinational
Peacekeeping Forces - Lebanon 1983 - 1984.
-
International
Coalition Forces in the Gulf - 1990
-
International
Security System Forces - Afghanistan 2001.
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Next of Kin:
Immediate next of kin (first generation only)
may apply for the medal.
The medal is dedicated, and
to memory of:
This
medal is dedicated to military and civilian Peacekeepers everywhere -
SERVING and RETIRE - who
have served the Nobel Course Of Peace.
It
is dedicated to those wounded or maimed in body or mind whilst serving the
course of peace.
But
above all it is dedicated to those soldiers of peace who did not return, who
died in a foreign land so far from home, whilst serving the cause of peace.
Bombed
and shelled, murdered and abducted they gave their all for peace and
humanity, and to make our world a better place for humanity to live in.
Their memory lives on forever.
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Medal specifications:
Obverse:
-
Dark blue gilt in colour.
The large medal is 35 mm in diameter and the mini medal is 20 mm in
diameter - with a ring type suspender. On top half of medal disk,
grouped together are the symbols of the UN, NATO and EU.
-
Underneath these
symbols is a helmet of the type worn by our troops on peacekeeping/peace
enforcing missions.
-
The helmet is in
gold crowned by laurel leafs, the symbol of the honour, loyalty and bravery
of the wearer.
Reverse:
Top bar:
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Symbolism of medal ribbon:
Red:
Red
represents the Tropical Sun over the Deserts and Jungles of Africa and South
East Asia.
The burgundy read also stands for the native thistles of the Global Heights.
Green:
Green
represents the Cedar Trees of Lebanon. Green is also symbolic of the Forests
of Bosnia Herzegovina, the former Yugoslavia and the Balkans.
Blue:
Symbolic
of the ice cold waters of the North Atlantic, and the founding of NATO. It
also represents the River Rhine and longest military mission undertaken NATO
in defence of the free world.
White:
The
white colour is the symbolic of the international fight against all
kind of terrorissm worldwide.
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Wearing of - The International Volunteers Foreign Service Medal.
As this medal is a Commemorative Medal
serving and retired military personnel should wear it in accordance with the
medal regulations which exist in their own country.
Members of Veteran Organisations should wear
The International Volunteers Foreign Service Medal in accordance with the
rules and medal regulations of their organisation.
Next of kin may only wear this medal on
their right breast.
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