The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-11-05
TRIBUTES TO HEROES.
THOSE WHOM CONGRESS HAS
ESPECIALLY HONORED.
Veterans Whose Bravery ON the Field
Has Bccn Recognized by the Gov
eminent 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 membership Is COM
posed of the material which makes up
tho 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 battle field.
Those only are eligible who have
received the bronze medal granted by
act OF congress to Officers non ON
missioned officers privates lands
men. sailors and marines as shall
most distinguish themselves by their
gallantry in action and other soldierly
qualifications.
Naturally the medals are highly
rrized by those holding them. says
the Washington Star and yet not
withstanding that over 2. 000. 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 the 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 tho iife OF another from drown
ing. Hence in the one case where
one OF the principal objects is to
cripple or destroy the enemy. ever
by taking his life if necessary the
soldier and sailor is awarded and
decorated. while. in tho other case.
the citizen who saves the life of u
drowning person. is also rewarded;
and. by the way the latter person or
.ife.saver. receives gold or silver
medal as the case may be- while the
soldier or sailor. the destroyer OF
life receives 4 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 other institutions confer
highly priced 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 occasio
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 tho 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 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 tho Iron
Cross in three classes who receive
pensions OF 3. 900. 700 and 800 lires.
The uniform is gorgeous. tho first
class wearing long robes 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 3. 600 1000. 1000 and 500
francs. Those who undergo amputa.
ton receive 100 francs additional and
no ignoble punishment can be in
;fllcted on the person holding men,
bership. The Victoria Cross OF Eng.
land allows a pension of f10 and
each additional act OF bravery that
would encitle the person to the GROSS
gives bar to be worn over tho cross
with the name OF the battle in which
1t was won on its face. and an add.
tional pension OF IS. At present
there is but one man so decorated. a
Major Bergman.
The medal OF honor Is somewhat
similar to the G. A. r. badge being
little larger with different device
and inscription. without the Ameri-
can flag but suspended from red.
white and blue striped ribbon with
plain blue field and no stars. The
button decoration of the legion is
small round button. white enameled
field. with q small American flag In
red white and blue enamel in the CEN
ter and the words Medal OF Honor
4 nxi2 L.