MEDAL FOR MERIT

In conjunction with the newly authorized Conspicuous Service Star and changes made to the criteria for the Conspicuous Service Cross, The Adjutant General has authorized an additional state military decoration: the New York State Medal for Merit. The medal will be issued to recognize veterans whose service on federal active duty was honorable and who were recipients of a valor, achievement, commendation, or meritorious service decoration, of a lesser degree than required for award of the Conspicuous Service Cross, or whose service was in direct support of combat operations.

Appropriate awards removed from the qualification list for the Conspicuous Service Cross are included on the qualification list for the Medal for Merit along with similar later awards. The requirement for battle star awards in World War II and later campaign service medals has been eliminated.

Individuals who have been awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross are not authorized to apply for the New York State Medal for Merit.


The general criteria to receive this medal require the recipient be:
A current New York State citizen OR;
A New York State citizen while serving on federal active duty AND;
A current or former full-time military person serving in the Armed Forces of the United States for purposes other than training since 1917; Active Guard/Reserve AGR excepted AND;
Currently serving under honorable conditions or honorably discharged from active duty.

An individual must be the recipient of at least one of the following:

Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Coast Guard Commendation Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Coast Guard Achievement Medal
Gold Lifesaving Medal
Silver Lifesaving Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Korean Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal
Combat Action Ribbon
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Medical Badge
Navy Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia
Mariner's Medal (Merchant Marine-World War II)
Merchant Marine Combat Bar (World War II)
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
Navy Expeditionary Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Combat Action Badge
Army of Occupation Medal
Navy Occupation Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal

 CONSPICUOUS SERVICE STAR

Governor George E. Pataki signed into law the creation of a new state military decoration named the New York State Conspicuous Service Star (CSS). The award is intended to recognize current and former members of the Armed Forces of the United States whose service on federal active duty was honorable and who were recipients of unit commendations arising from combat.



The general criteria for this medal require an individual to be:
A current New York State citizen OR
A New York State citizen while serving on federal active duty AND
A current or former full-time military person serving in the Armed Forces of the United States for purposes other than training since 1917; Active Guard/Reserve AGR expected AND
Currently serving under honorable conditions or honorably discharged from active duty.

An individual must be the recipient of at least one of the following:

Distinguished Unit Citation/Presidential Unit Citation (Army/Navy/Air Force)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Valorous Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army)
Navy Unit Commendation
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Navy-Marine Corps)
Coast Guard Unit Commendation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation
Air Force Gallant Unit Citation
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award

NOTE: All awards listed above, with the exception of the Presidential Unit Citation and Valorous Unit Award, require additional evidence that award was made for combat participation.
French Fourragere
French Croix de Guerre (World War I or World War II)
French Medal Militaire
Belgian Fourragere
Belgian Croix de Guerre
Luxembourg Croix de Guerre
Netherlands Orange Lanyard
Military Order of William (Netherlands)
Croce al Merito di Guerra (Italy)
Orden de Torre E Espada (Portugal)
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation (awarded prior to 1945)
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Chyssoun Aristion Andrias (Greece)
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation

NOTE: Specifically excluded are the Army Superior Unit Award, Navy "E" Award Ribbon, and the United States Merchant Marine Gallant Ship Citation Ribbon.


REPUBLIC OF KOREA KOREAN WAR MEDAL

America's military veterans of the Korean War are now eligible to accept and wear a medal initially offered by the government of South Korea nearly a half century ago. In 1951, South Korea offered to all service men and women who fought under the banner of the United Nations, the "Republic of Korea War Service Medal (ROKWSM)."

While military personnel from other nations accepted the medal, American law at that time prohibited members of its armed forces from wearing medals issued by foreign governments.

The law was changed in 1954, but South Korea did not renew its offer of the service medal until 1998.South Korean government announced it would again make the medal available to U.S. veterans, or to their surviving next of kin.

The United States Air Force has been designated the lead agency to receive and distribute the medals.

To be eligible, a veteran must have served between June 25, 1950 and July 27, 1953 in the territorial limits of Korea, its adjacent water or in the air over Korea. A copy of the veterans military discharge or other acceptable proof of service must be provided.


THE NATIONAL PURPLE HEART HALL OF HONOR

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, located in New York's Hudson River Valley at the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site, opened in 2006. The 7,500 square foot facility shares the stories of America's combat wounded veterans and those who never returned, all recipients of the Purple Heart.

Any veteran who received the Purple Heart is eligible for induction. CLICK HERE for more information.