Rosette (decoration)

Arosette/roʊˈzɛt/is a small, circular device that is typically presented with amedal. The rosettes are either worn on the medal to denote a higher rank,or for situations where wearing the medal is deemed inappropriate, such as on asuit. Rosettes are issued to those awarded aknighthoodordamehoodin achivalric order, as well asstate ordersin nations such asBelgium,France,ItalyandJapan, among others. Certainhereditary societies, such as the Society of Descendants of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, as well as somefraternal ordersissue rosettes to their members as well.
Rosettes are also sometimes calledbowknots, due to their shape.  Moreover, a large rosette is sometimes pinned onto theribbonwhich suspends a medal, typically theOfficer(and sometimesGrand Officer)'sbadgeof certain orders of chivalry.
Some smalllapelrosettes are worn in the same manner as otherlapel pins. For instance, knights and dames of theOrder of the British Empirenow wear a lapel rosette bearing the order's cross in the center, whereas previously this was a purely metallic lapel pin. While a metal lapel pin mounted on asilkrosette is considered a decoration of distinction, this is not always true of a metal emblem lacking the ribbon backing.
A rosette adorns the ribbon of all nationalOrders of Merit(namely theOrder of Leopold, theOrder of the Crown, theOrder of Leopold II, and the dormantOrder of the African StarandRoyal Order of the Lion) at the rank of Officer. Such rosette may also be worn in diminutive form on appropriate civilian dress. Ranks above that of Officer (Commander, Grand Officer and Grand Cross) may wear a rosette adorned with gold and/or silver bars (or "half-knots") on each side of the rosette on appropriate civilian dress. Such rosette also adorns ribbon bars worn on the semi-formal dress uniform.
Several of the top decorations of France, including theLégion d'honneurand theOrdre national du Mérite, are presented with a rosette along with the medal. The Legion of Honor authorized a rosette for those who are the rank of officer or above. If the grade is higher, the rosette is adorned with gold and/or silver bars (or "half-knots") which are place beside each side of the rosette. The same manner is accorded to the Order of National Merit.  In occasions when ribbon bars are worn alone, the above-mentioned half-knots and/or rosettes are pinned onto the ribbon bars as appropriate to denote the wearer's grade.
In the United Kingdom, small silver rosettes can be added to the ribbons that are worn in place of medals.  Usually these indicate multiple award bars, the number of times a decoration for merit or distinguished service has been awarded.  (Exceptions are theGeorge CrossandVictoria Cross, where the ribbons are issued only with miniatures of the medals attached.)  Holders of the1914 Star, the1939-45 Star, theAtlantic Star, thePacific Star, theBurma Star, theSouth Atlantic Medal(awarded for service in theFalklands War), the Gulf War Medal 1991 and the Sierra Leone medal could also receive these rosettes if they met certain criteria for combat service.
In the United States, theMedal of Honoris issued with a1/2+in⁄cmlight blue rosette with white stars, authorized for civilian wear as a lapel button.Previously, thePurple Heartwas also presented with a purple and white rosette, but now has been replaced by a metalliclapel pin. The lapel pin is designed to be a smaller version of the rectangularservice ribbon, also for use on civilian wear. Most American military medals have the ribbon bar design scaled down to the size of a lapel pin.  Members of theSons of the American Revolutionwear small, blue-and-buff rosettes as lapel buttons.  The colors match those of the uniform of Gen.George Washingtonand theContinental Army.
Several American-basedlineage societiesprovide a rosette as an insignia of membership for informal wear.