Presidential Medal of Freedom

[Ken]

Has any CAP member ever won the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

[Pylon]

Has any CAP member ever won the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

Wouldn't know.  CAP NHQ doesn't want CAP members wearing those pesky presitigious federal awards on the CAP uniform.  Ribbons for things like going to a week-long camp or watching a couple videos are much more important.    

Thank God people in Civil Air Patrol can't wear things like the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the USCG Medal for Lifesaving, NASA Medal for Exceptional Bravery, or the Department of State Meritorious Honor Award.

Military types can wear them, and civilians can wear lapel pins of the ribbons but thank God CAP members aren't allowed to display such petty federal awards.  That CAP ribbon for taking an open-book online test on middle-school-level material is so much more presitigious.

[/sarcasm class="thick"]

[John Bryan]

Well that is an interesting question.......I would guess the White House could provide a list to anyone in the public wanting to know who has earned it....but I am not sure there is anyway to see if the person was a CAP member.

I do not recall ever hearing about a CAP earning the Medal of Freedom.

On a side note/question to the last person to post. Is there a ribbon for this medal since it is a civilian award?

[Pylon]

On a side note/question to the last person to post. Is there a ribbon for this medal since it is a civilian award?

Yes, there are ribbons for these awards.  Even though they are classified as "Federal Civilian Awards," they can and are issued to those who also serve in the military.  The US Armed Forces allows those who earned these federal awards to wear the ribbons.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is a navy blue ribbon, with white stripes on the edges, bearing a silver eagle device/attachment affixed to it.  See below for ribbon and medal:

[John Bryan]

Thanks .....that is a very cool medal and ribbon.

I was doing a little research and found a master list of people who have the award.

http://www.medaloffreedom.com/AlphabeticalList.htm

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award in the United States.

It was established by President Harry Truman in 1945 to honor service during WWII. President John F. Kennedy revived the medal and began the tradition of awarding the medal annually, on or near July 4. The award is awarded to several people annually. Unlike many other US awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom can be awarded to non-US citizens.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom recognizes individuals who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, or to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." 

[AlphaSigOU]

There are three grades to the Presidential Medal of Freedom:

The badge of the Presidential Medal of Freedom is in the form of a golden star with white enamel, with a red enamel pentagon behind it; the central disc bears thirteen gold stars on a blue enamel background (taken from the crest of the U.S. coat-of-arms) within a golden ring. Golden American eagles with spread wings stand between the arms of the star. It is worn on a blue ribbon with white edge stripes around the neck.

A special grade of the medal, known as the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, has the abovementioned medal worn as a star on the left chest; in addition, the abovementioned ribbon is worn as a sash on the right shoulder, with its rosette (blue with white edge, bearing the central disc of the medal at its center) resting on the left hip.

Another special grade of the medal, known as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, with Military Distinction, has the abovementioned medal worn from the abovementioned ribbon differenced with a series of white stars upon the ribbon.

The medal may also be worn on the abovementioned ribbon on the left chest, with a silver American eagle with spreaded wings on the ribbon (or a golden eagle if a medal "With Distinction").

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Medal_of_Freedom

[Eclipse]

The regulations be [darn]ed - any member inside my authority who earns it could wear it.

Now, with that said, I'm not going to waste any time tonight writing a uniform supplement as its doubtful anyone I know will be worried about wearing it anytime soon.

In the CAP world, we have similair decorations for CAP service which I would wold be issued in its place.

Sharp ribbon, though.

[groundpounder]

The regulations be [darn]ed - any member inside my authority who earns it could wear it.

Interesting outlook - "regulations be [darn]ed" - are you the same Eclipse that posted this quote over at the CapBlog?

"Whether they are too conservative or not, the rules are the rules. You can't play the game unless you follow ALL of them"

It's always interesting to read posters that live and die by the regulations until a pesky one gets in the way........

[Eclipse]

Yes, I am the same one, and was fully aware of the hypocrisy as I wrote it.

You're right, though.  Rules are rules.

I guess we couldn't let someone where their Nobel either...

[AlphaSigOU]

Yes, I am the same one, and was fully aware of the hypocrisy as I wrote it.

You're right, though.  Rules are rules.

I guess we couldn't let someone where their Nobel either...

Besides, the Nobel Prize medal is not designed to have a suspension ribbon. It's just a nice gold medal in a nice velvet box. 

[groundpounder]

Yes, I am the same one, and was fully aware of the hypocrisy as I wrote it.

You're right, though.  Rules are rules.

I guess we couldn't let someone where their Nobel either...

Not saying that the wearing of the medal is wrong - just pointing out that sometimes the rules are dumb and we need to stand up and press the powers to revise dumb rules.

We have a lot of "rules are rules" folks out there that will stand on the tracks and let the train hit them because Simon did not say they could move out of the way. Sometimes you have to say "All due respect Sir but your rule is not the best path [stupid] and we need to spend a little time on changing things for the better."

[Eclipse]

Sounds about right.

Besides, the Nobel Prize medal is not designed to have a suspension ribbon. It's just a nice gold medal in a nice velvet box. 

Agreed - but I know a few members who, given the right amount of velcro & yarn would try and wear it somehow...

[Major Carrales]

I am bring this old topic up because I am interested in discussing this with the new membership.

I find it od that CAP would not allow Federal Civilian Awards be worn of CAP uniforms.  It seems like a good fit. 

Comments?

[Al Sayre]

I'm willing to bet $5 that if someone who had an award like the PMOF made a stink to National about not being able to wear it, a change letter to 39-1 would be rapidly dispatched, and photos would be taken and published with that person, in uniform wearing the medal and shaking the hand of the National Commander

[Major Carrales]

I'm willing to bet $5 that if someone who had an award like the PMOF made a stink to National about not being able to wear it, a change letter to 39-1 would be rapidly dispatched, and photos would be taken and published with that person, in uniform wearing the medal and shaking the hand of the National Commander

I think this is merely an oversight issue.  Look at the list of awarded ribbons/medals for US Customs, NASA, the CIA you name them.  It seems that these shoudl take precedence to CAP awards since they are federal service oriented.

Please, more comments...

[Pace]

I'm willing to bet $5 that if someone who had an award like the PMOF made a stink to National about not being able to wear it, a change letter to 39-1 would be rapidly dispatched, and photos would be taken and published with that person, in uniform wearing the medal and shaking the hand of the National Commander

I think this is merely an oversight issue.  Look at the list of awarded ribbons/medals for US Customs, NASA, the CIA you name them.  It seems that these shoudl take precedence to CAP awards since they are federal service oriented.

Please, more comments...

Just write TP up for one (whether he's eligible or not) and the regs will be fixed...

>>>Crawling under my rock before I piss off the powers that be.

[lordmonar]

Just to play devils advocate here....if we open it up to other federal agencies medals....what about state agencies too?  Do we risk starting down the slippery slope here?

[Major Carrales]

Just to play devils advocate here....if we open it up to other federal agencies medals....what about state agencies too?  Do we risk starting down the slippery slope here?

I don't think so.  Federal medals woudl likely be of the type that woudl be worn before CAP awards.  State would be worn below sense in a wierd way CAP is a sort of Federal thing.  Hummmm....?


That being said, I had not and have not thought this through...however, one would think that  a medal given by POTUS would merit being worn on CAP uniforms.

[Major_Chuck]

I want one....

Can I have one if I don't get the crap beat out of me playing Halo?

[DNall]

I'm willing to bet $5 that if someone who had an award like the PMOF made a stink to National about not being able to wear it, a change letter to 39-1 would be rapidly dispatched, and photos would be taken and published with that person, in uniform wearing the medal and shaking the hand of the

National Commander President, with his Congressman & the SECAF on the flanks & teh CAP/CC jumping up & down in the back trying to get in the pic. And a great day it would be for CAP/PR

Are you nuts? There's already a stick to ensure regs are clarified to clear up the question on wear of the Army civilian decorations given to the handful of Iowa personnel. I think if theis had ever happened before you'd know about it.

I did meet a non-CAP member locally that won it though. This was a long time ago, but cop was at a school when some guy came in shooting & he ushered kids out the hall under fire taking rounds in the back so no one else got hit, then the wierdo shot his self.