Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-10-14
TRIBUTES TO HEROES.
THOSE WHOM CONGRESS HAS
ESPECIALLY HONORED.
Veterans Whose Bravery on the Field
Has Boon Recognized by the Gov
ernment Which They
Preserved.

Among the many associations grow
ing out of the late war Is the
Medal OF Honor Legion, an as
ISOLATION of soldiers sailors and
marines of the late rebellion. OF which
the country has not heard great
DEAL and yet its mem bership is COM
posed OF the material which makes up
the glory OF the war. Its members
are all heroes and can only become
members by reason OF their conspic-
uous acts OF heroism in the service OF
their country upon the battlefield
Those only are eligible who have
received the bronze medal granted by
act OF congress to Officers. non-c ON
missioned iicers privates lands
men, sailors and marines as shall
most distinguish themselves by their
gallantry in action and other solderly
qualifications.
Naturally the medals are highly
priced by those holding them. says
the Washington Star and yet not
withstanding that over 2. 600 900 en-
listments were made in the union
army during the rebellion less than
500 OF these medals were given tor
heroic action in battle, and of the re.
cipients less than half are now alive.
In view OF the fact that this is the
only decoration this country has ever
given they must be regarded as a dis
tinction OF tho highest order.
In this country medals are sparing-
ly given. The government recognizes
no order or society for the purpose Of
decoration, but in the one instance. it
may be said. it decorates the soldiers
and sailors by act OF congress with
the modal OF honor for gallant and
conspicuous conduct in battle or in
taking life, while on the other hand
it confers the life saving medal for
the great risk run by one person in
saving the life OF another from drown
ing. Hence, in the one case where
one OF the principal objects is to
cripple or destroy the enemy even
by taking his life If necessary tho
soldier and sailor is awarded and
decorated. while, in the other case,
the citizen who saves the life OF a
drowning person. is also rewarded;
and. by the way. the latter person or
!ile.saver. receives a gold or silver
medal. as the case may be, while the
soldier or sailor the destroyer OF
life receives bronze or the
less valuable one intrinsically.
In England the orders of the Bath
and Garter are bestowed for civil
merit and are very limited in mum.
Der. None but those high in position
in the country can receive them.
Societies such as the Humane society.
colleges and Othee institutions confsY
highly pri7ed titles on decorations.
but they are not recognized by govern
ments. 1t would therefore, be much
out OF place and very poor taste to
wear them except on special occasions
Governments sometimes confer their
decorations on citizens OF other coun-
tries for great merit daring or very
ha ardous services. The recipient
however. must first obtain the consent
of his own government to receive it.
Spain has The Order of the Gold
ell Fleece , the badge OF which may
be worn from the neck or button
hole except on occasions OF great
ceremony. when it is worn from the
neck and the wearer must be in uni
form, consisting OF a long robe of
deep red velvet lined with white
taffetaS over which is thrown a long
mantle of purple velvet lined with
white satin and richly trimmed with
embroidery containing fire stones and
steel emitting flames and sparks.
Italy has the Order of the Iron
Cross in three classes who receive
pens ,ons of 3. 900. 70l and 500 lires
The uniform is gorgeous the first
class wearing long rones with trains.
the second to the feet the third to
the knee, and all have large pensions.
France has the Legion of Honor and
when conferred for military service
carries a pension in each of its four
classes of ?. COO 2.030 ]. coo and 500
francs Those who undergo amputa-
ton receive 100 francs additional. and
no ignoble punishment can be in
fllcted on the person holding mem
bership. The Victoria Cross Of Eng.
land allows a pension OF 9l0. and
each additional act OF bravery that
would enCitle the person to the cross
gives bar to be worn oyeg the cross
with the name OF the battle in which
1t was won on It's face. and an adj.
tional pension OF 70. At present
there is but one man so decorated, a
Major Bergman.
The medal OF honor is somewhat
similar TO the G. A. X. badge being
little larger with different device
and inscription. without the Ameri-
can flag. but suspended from red.
white and blue striped ribbon. with a
plain blue field and no stars The
button decoration OF the legion is a
small round button, white euameled
field. with small American flag In
red. white and blue enamel in the CEN
ter and the words Medal OF Honor
Legion" around the flag.