National Order of the Cedar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The National Order of the Cedar (Ordre National du Cèdre) is a prestigious civilian and military award and Medal of the Lebanese Government. This world-renowned Order is the highest decoration in Lebanon and is consisted of five Grades (lower to higher): Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer, and Grand Cordon.
The Medal itself consists of a five-pointed white enamel gilt-edged Maltese cross with stylised green and brown enamel cedars of Lebanon between the arms on a green enamel laurel wreath suspension; the face with a central red enamel medallion inscribed in Arabic ‘Lubnan’ (Lebanon) within an inscribed gilt ring; the reverse with a circular central gilt medallion bearing the red and white enamel national flag of the Republic of Lebanon within an inscribed gilt ring. It has a diameter of 20mm (¾ inch).
The Order was created on the 31 December 1936, but is regulated by the Lebanese Code of Decorations as set out in Decree-Law 122 of 12 June 1959. It is awarded, usually by the President of the Republic of Lebanon, for “great services rendered to Lebanon, for acts of courage and devotion of great moral value, as for years in public service”.
[edit] Some of the Recipients
Spencer Abraham, U.S. Secretary of Energy (2001-2005) - Commander, 2004.
Jad Azkoul, Lebanese Classical Guitarist - Knight, 1988.
Ziad R. Beydoun, Lebanese Geologist, Professor of Geology at the American University of Beirut - Knight, 1995.
Wissam Boustany, British Concert Flutist - Knight, 1997.
Alain F. Carpentier, French Heart Surgeon - Commander.
Randa Chahal-Sabbag, Lebanese Filmmaker - Knight, 2007.
Abdallah Chahine, Lebanese Pianist, Knight, 1974.
Max Chaya, Lebanese Mountain Climber - Knight, 2003 - Officer, 2006.
Edgar Choueiri, Lebanese-American Scientist, Professor of Applied Physics at Princeton University- Knight, 2004.
Georges David Corm, Lebanese Painter - Officer, 1958.
José Cura, Argentnian Operatic Tenor - Knight, 2000.
Pierre de Bané, Canadian Senator, Officer - 2002.
Constantinos A. Doxiadis, Greek Architect and Urban Planner - Knight, 1958
Charles Elachi, Lebanese-American Scientist, Director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory- Officer, 2006.
Fairuz, Lebanese Singer - Knight, 1957 - Commander, 1963.
Issam Michael Fares, Lebanese Philanthropist and Financier, Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon - Commander.
Mustafa Farroukh, Lebanese Painter - Officer, 1954.
Faten Hamama, Egyptian Actress - Commander, 2001.
Rafic Hariri, Lebanese Prime Minister (1992 to 1998 and 2000-2004) - Commander, 1983.
Khaireddine Haseeb, Iraqi Economist - Commander, 2002.
Taha Hussein, Egyptian Writer.
Bechara el-Khoury, Lebanese Composer - Knight, 2001.
Jean-Marie Lustiger, Archbishop of Paris (1981-2005), Cardinal - Grand Cordon.
Farid G. Mitri, Lebanese Biomedical Researcher, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic - Officer, 2007.
Pierre Mauroy, French Prime Minister (1981-1984) - Grand Cordon.
Mahathir bin Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia (1981-2003) - Commander, 2003.
Jacques Nasser, Lebanese-Australian Executive, CEO of Ford Motor Company (1999-2001) - Officer, 2002.
Abbé Pierre, French Catholic priest and Humanitarian - Officer.
Edwin Terry Prothro, American Psychologist and Educator, Professor of Psychology at the American University of Beirut - Knight, 1969.
Sir Stephen Henry Roberts, Australian Historian, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney (1947-1967) - Knight, 1961.
George V. Savvaides, Greek Diplomat - Commander, 2001.
James Sreenan - Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces (2004-2007) - Commander, 2000.
M. Denis Vienot, President of Caritas (charity) Internationalis, the Catholic relief organization - Officer, 2007.