National Order of the Cedar
| Medal of the National Order of the Cedar |
Officer Medal of the National Order of the Cedar |
| Awarded by Lebanon |
| Type |
Order with five grades: Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer, Grand Cordon |
| Awarded for |
Great services rendered to Lebanon, for acts of courage and devotion of great moral value, as for years in public service |
| Status |
Open since 1936 |
The National Order of the Cedar (Ordre National du Cèdre) is a prestigious civilian and military award and Medal of the Lebanese Government. This Order is the highest decoration in Lebanon and is made up of five Grades (highest to lowest):
- Grand Cordon
- Grand Officer
- Commander
- Officer
- Knight
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”.
Partial list of recipients
- Carlos Slim Helu, businessman
- King Idris of Libya, Libyan monarch
- Boutros Salim AbouNader, Lebanese aviator - Knight, 1975
- 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, 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.
- Claude Comair, Co-Founder Nintendo Software Technology, Founder of DigiPen - Commander, 2001.
- Georges David Corm, Lebanese Painter - Officer, 1958.
- José Cura, Argentinian 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.
- Michel Elefteriades, Greek-Lebanese politician, artist, producer and businessman - Commander, 2005.
- Fairuz, Lebanese Singer - Knight, 1957 - Commander, 1963.
- Issam Fares, Lebanese Philanthropist and Financier, Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon - Officer, Grand Officer.
- Mustafa Farroukh, Lebanese Painter - Officer, 1954.
- Fouad Mostafa Awad, Egyptian Economist - Officer, 1974.
- Faten Hamama, Egyptian Actress - Commander, 2001.
- Rafic Hariri, Lebanese Prime Minister (1992 to 1998 and 2000–2004) - Commander, 1983 - Grand Cordon, 1996.
- Khaireddine Haseeb, Iraqi Economist - Commander, 2002.
- Taha Hussein, Egyptian Writer.
- Costas H. Issidorides, Professor of Chemistry at the American University of Beirut - Knight, 1986
- Bechara El-Khoury, Lebanese Composer - Knight, 2001.
- Jean-Marie Lustiger, Archbishop of Paris (1981–2005), Cardinal - Grand Cordon.
- Farid G. Mitri, Lebanese Biomedical Researcher, Associate 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.
- Jean Misak Belian, General Inspector, In The Lebanese Government General Inspection Department, 2006, (1955–2006).
- Shahantoukhd, Lebanese-Armenian Writer, and Community contributor, 2007.
- Pierre Shamesian, Lebanese-Armenian Comedy Actor, 2007.
- Col. Larry R. Williams, USMC 1983, Commanding Officer, 10th U.S. Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps political liaison to Lebanese government during bombing of the U.S. Marine Barracks, Beirut. - Officer 1983
- Maj. General Stanisław F. Wozniak, Poland, FC UNIFIL - Commander. 1997
- Maj. General Paolo Gerometta, Italy,UNIFIL SWC and JTF-L Commander, Knight - 2010.
- The Most Reverend Bishop Salim Ghazal, Melkite Bishop and Champion of Co-Existence in Lebanon, Commander - 2011.
- Ali Wehbi,"The Lebanese Desert Runner" - Knight, 2011
External links