<I>Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur</I>
date: label: Date
content: May 12, 1992
name: label: Published by
content: Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honor, French, founded 1802
label: Received by
content: General Colin L. Powell, American, 1937 - 2021
notes: label: Caption
content: General Colin Powell was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1992. The Legion of Honor was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in May 1802 and is the highest decoration in France. It is divided into five degrees of increasing distinction: Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier (Grand Officer) and Grand Croix (Grand Cross). General Powell was awarded the degree of Commandeur.
label: Description
content: A framed Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur (National Order of the Legion of Honor) awarded by the Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honor to General Colin L. Powell. On May 12, 1992, General Colin Powell was awarded the highest French merit award: Commandeur level National Order of the Legion of Honor (a). At the French embassy in Paris, France, on July 24, 1992, General Powell was presented with the accompanying Legion of Honor badge (A2022.101.1.6.1a) and miniature Legion of Honor badge ribbon (A2022.101.1.6.2) and this certificate. The large white paper certificate features a decorative black-and-white border with the hanging Legion of Honor badge illustrated at the top center. The badge’s ribbon collar is depicted as infinitely interwoven like a scroll, with the olive branch of peace. At each of the four corners of the border, and at the top center, is “RH”.
label: Description
content: In black ink the certificate reads: [RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE / ODRE NATIONAL DE LA LÉGION D’HONNEUR / HONNEUR PATRIE / LE PRÉSIDENT DE LA REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE / GRAND MAÎTRE DE L’ORDRE NATIONAL DE LA LÉGION D’HONNEUR / nomme par décret de ce jour, le Général d’Armée Colin, Luther POWELL / Chef d’Etat-Major des Armées américaines / COMMANDEUR DE LA LÉGION D’HONNEUR / Fait à Paris, le 12 mai 1992]. To the right of the raised opaque apostille in the lower left corner of the certificate is: [Scellé du sceau de l’Odre sous le n°43 LHE 92]. The signature of Le Secrétaire Général adjoint, signed “F. TISNÉ” is also present. In the lower right corner of the certificate is: [Par le Président de la République : / LE GRAND CHANCELIER DE LA LÉGION D’HONNEUR, / Général BIARD]. General Biard’s signature in brown ink is also present.
label: Description
content: The oversized, gilt style square frame (b) is solidly constructed of wood and features deeply engraved leaf motifs.
place: label: Place printed
content: Paris, France, Europe
title: label: Title
content: Framed certificate of Legion of Honor awarded to General Colin L. Powell
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Government
label: Topic
content: International affairs
label: Topic
content: Men
label: Topic
content: Military
label: Topic
content: Politics
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1969-2001
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Awards, Medals, and Insignia
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alma J. Powell
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: A2022.101.1.20ab
objectType: label: Type
content: frames (furnishings)
label: Type
content: certificates
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Unknown – Restrictions Possible
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: (a) ink on paper (fiber product)
label: Medium
content: (b) wood, glass and metal
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (framed): 22 1/16 × 26 9/16 × 3 1/2 in. (56.1 × 67.5 × 8.9 cm)