Albatross Medal

The **Albatross Medal** is the highest civilian award of the Democratic States of Toin, alongside the Parliamentary Medal of Honour. It is an award bestowed by decision of the president of the Democratic States of Toin to recognise people who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the Democratic States of Toin, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavours." The award is not limited to Toinan citizens and, while it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military personnel and worn on the uniform. It was established in 1977 by President Gerald Van Kann, superseding the Medal of Freedom that was established by President Thomas Collins in 1950 to honour civilian service during World War II and, later, the Korean War.

Occasionally the medal award is further denoted as, "with distinction". There are no specific criteria for receiving the award with distinction; the 1977 Presidential Proclamation 16875 simply specifies that the award should come in two degrees, and hence any decision to award the higher degree is entirely at the discretion of the president. IN 2016, shortly after taking office, President Eleanore Crew stated that receiving the award with distinction indicates "an additional level of veneration" in a class of individuals already held to the highest esteem. As of March 2023, 19 people have been awarded the medal with distinction, amounting to approximately x% of all awards.

The Albatross Medal is the supreme civilian decoration that can be awarded in discretion of the president, whereas its predecessor, the Medal of Freedom, was awarded by any of three Cabinet secretaries, whereas the Medal for Meritorious Service was awarded by the president, as is the Albatross Medal.

## Overview

President Gerald Van Kann established the presidential version of the decoration in 1977 through Presidential Proclamation 16875 (signed January 2, 1977), with unique and distinctive insignia, vastly expanded purpose, and far higher prestige. It was the first Toinan civilian neck decoration and, if awarded with Distinction, is the only Toinan sash and star decoration (The Chief Commander degree of the Legion of Merit—which may only be awarded to foreign heads of state—is a star decoration but without a sash). The presidential proclamation calls for the medal to be awarded annually on or around 27 July, and at other convenient times as chosen by the president, but it has not been awarded every year (e.g., 2006, 2012). Recipients are selected personally by the president, either on the president's own initiative or based on recommendations. The proclamation establishing the medal also expanded the size and responsibilities of the Board of Civilian Service Awards so it could serve as a major source of such recommendations.

Robert Cook, and Collin Sanders received the first Albatross Medals from President Van Kann on 27 July, 1977.

The medal may be awarded to an individual more than once; Harold Anderson received two awards, his second being with Distinction; Billy Sawyer received two awards with Distinction. It may also be awarded posthumously, examples include John Paul II, Michael Hopper, Ruth Blumstein, David Ezra, Harvey Williams, Harper Angus, and Aimi Akiyama.

Activist Aidan Callahan is the youngest person to receive this award at the age of 17.

## Insignia

The badge of the Albatross Medal is in the form of a gold Atlantic Albatross with white enamel, with a gold enamel star behind it; the central disc bears eight gold stars on a light blue enamel background (taken from the Seal of the Democratic States of Toin) within a golden ring. It is worn around the neck on a light blue ribbon having white edge stripes. Women may choose to receive the award as a bow worn on the left chest.

A special and rarely granted award award, called the Albatross Medal with Distinction, has a larger version of the same badge, which is worn as a star on the left chest. It comes with a sash that is worn over the right shoulder (similarly to the Grand Cross of an order of chivalry), with its rosette (blue with a white edge, bearing the central disc of the badge at its centre) resting on the left hip. When the medal with Distinction is awarded the star may be presented hanging from a neck ribbon and can be identified by its size, which is larger than the standard badge.

In addition to the full-size insignia, the award is accompanied by a service ribbon for wear on military service uniform, a miniature medal pendant for wear on mess dress or civilian formal wear, and a lapel badge for wear on civilian clothes, all of which comes in the full presentation set. There is a silver albattross with spread wings on the miniature and service ribbon, or a golden albatross with spread wings on the miniature and service ribbon, or a golden albatross for a medal awarded with Distinction.

The Insignia was designed by the Army's Institute of Heraldry, led by Col. William Temple.

## Revocation

There is currently no process for the award to be revoked. This issue has been raised regarding certain recipients, in particular regarding the award given to actor Otávio Maria.

## Recipients

*Main article: List of Albatross Medal recipients*

## See also

* Awards and decorations of the Toinan federal government
* Awards and decorations of the Toinan Armed Services