Independence Medal (Lithuania)
| Independence Medal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | Lithuania |
| Type | State decoration |
| Awarded for | Restoration of Lithuania's independence |
In Lithuania, the Independence Medal (Lithuanian: nepriklausomybės medalis) is a state medal of Lithuania, awarded for the contributions in the restoration of the independence of the state. The medal had two issues.[1]
1928 issue
The medal was awarded to persons "for contributions to the re-establishment and strengthening of the independence of Lithuania in 1919-1928" [3]
The medal was issued commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Republic. It was designed by sculptor Juozas Zikaras.[3]
The awardee categories included:[3]
- Lithuanian book smugglers (knygnešiai), who smuggled the Lithuanian language books during the prohibition of the Lithuanian language in Russian Empire
- participants of the Lithuanian Wars of Independence of 1918-1920
- Knights of the Cross of Vytis
- members of the 1923 Klaipėda Revolt
riflemen and persons who had joined the public service in the early days of independence (1918-1919).
During 1928-1940, over 44 thousand of Lithuanian citizens and foreign nationals were awarded the medal. It was a historical analogue of the 1928 issue.[3]
2000 issue
The medal was awarded to persons "for distinction in the cause of restoration and consolidation of the Independent State of Lithuania during the period from 1990 to 2000" [3]
The medal was reestablished on July 1, 2000[4] and discontinued[1] on March 1, 2001.
On the reverse of the reinstated medal the original dates “1918-1928” were replaced with “1990-2000”. [4]
The awardee categories included:[3][4]
- participants of armed and unarmed resistance
- volunteer militia
- publishers of the Chronicle of the Lithuanian Catholic Church
- founders of the Committee for Protection of the Rights of Believers
- members of the Lithuanian Helsinki Group
- members of the national rebirth movement "Sajudis"
- members of the Reconstituent Seimas
- signatories of the March 11 Act of the reestablishment of the independence
On July 1, 2000, the medal was issued to about 300 persons.[5]
References
- 1 2 "Lietuvos nepriklausomybės medalis", a National Museum of Lithuania webpage (retrieved July 19, 2015)
- ↑ Algimantas Astikas, Lietuvos ordinai, medaliai ir ženkleliai 1918–1940, Vilnuis, 1993, p. 77
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Independence Medal", President of Lithuiania website (retrieved July 19, 2015)
- 1 2 3 "The National Awards of Restored Independent Lithuania", a National Museum of Lithuania webpage (retrieved July 19, 2015)
- ↑ LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS PREZIDENTAS D E K R E T A S DĖL APDOVANOJIMO LIETUVOS NEPRIKLAUSOMYBĖS MEDALIU 2000 m. liepos 1 d. Nr. 929 Vilnius, —original decree. Current version with copyedited list of names