<I>Légion d'honneur</I>
date: label: Date
content: July 24, 1992
name: label: Created 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: This Legion of Honor was awarded to General Colin Powell at the French embassy in Paris 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 medal with the degree of Commandeur.
label: Description
content: A large silver Legion of Honor badge and presentation case awarded by the Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honor to General Colin L. Powell. The Legion of Honor badge (a) is an intricately constructed five-armed Maltese Asterisk, a pennant-ended cross of enamel over yellow gold. The cross arms have gold borders and the interstices between the arms are covered with white enamel. The center of the cross is a gold medallion with a white enamel border and bears the emblem of the Legion of Honor, which is a five-pointed star with a crown above it. The French Tricolor of two crossed red, white, and blue flags, in enamel, is also represented. The dark blue enameled ring of the medallion features the engraved words "HONNEUR ET PATIE" (Honor and Fatherland). A gold oak wreath is superimposed beneath the cross and enameled in verdant green. The obverse side of the medallion features an engraved portrait of Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic, wearing a Phrygian cap and surrounded by the engraved words, "République Française" (French Republic). The badge is suspended by a green enameled laurel and oak wreath and is worn with a bright red ribbon collar. The badge is accompanied by its original rectangular red snakeskin presentation box (b). The interior of the box has a plump red silk cushion on which both badges, the standard and the miniature, can rest. A cream silk pad lines the top of the inner box and features the gold embroidered name “MONNAIE DE PARIS”. The box opens and closes like a clam mouth by hinge. On the top of the exterior of the box is a white and green label with black text that reads: [LEGION D’HONNEUR WITH THE DEGREE OF / COMMANDEUR / 24 JUL 92 – FRENCH EMBASSY]. There are no other markings on the box.
place: label: Place made
content: France, Europe
title: label: Title
content: Legion of Honor badge 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: 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: A2022.101.1.6.1ab
objectType: label: Type
content: regalia
label: Type
content: badges
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) enamel on gold , silk (fiber)
label: Medium
content: (b) plastic with silk (fiber)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (a): 11 1/4 × 2 3/8 × 3/8 in. (28.5 × 6 × 1 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (b): 6 1/16 × 3 9/16 × 1 9/16 in. (15.4 × 9.1 × 4 cm)