Vermont Veterans Medal
Encyclopedia
The Vermont Veterans Medal is awarded to U.S. veterans from Vermont
. If the service was only in the Vermont National Guard
, they must have been activated during a conflict or be retired. The medal was established in 1999, but is retroactively available to veterans of prior military service.
The Vermont Veterans Medal is a state award. U.S. military active duty regulations allow their members to accept but not wear state awards. In addition, activated National Guard members may not wear their state awards while serving in Title 10 (federal) status.
narrative describing the Vermont Veterans Medal:
The ribbons of the Vermont medals for veterans contain the four primary colors of the Coat of arms of Vermont
: red, yellow, blue and green.
The alternating red and yellow at the center of the ribbon loosely parallels the design and colors of the National Defense Service Medal, which is presented to military members with service during a time of conflict.
Field of azure blue encompasses the red and yellow, symbolizing the honor of military service.
Next, fields of green represent Vermont, the Green Mountain State, which reminds us that service to our nation is also service to the citizens of our state.
The edges of this ribbon are bordered in yellow. In the Vermont Coat of Arms
, bundles of wheat are shown in yellow. In this ribbon, they represent the protection offered our state by nature’s bounty.
The medal is cast in bronze, with the Coat of arms of Vermont on the obverse and the Great Seal of Vermont on the reverse. Across the top is inscribed “Vermont National Defense,” uniting the interests of our state with our nation.
The year “1777” is inscribed at the bottom, indicating the year of the Battle of Bennington
where Vermonters first took arms to defend their state in war, and the year of the founding of the Vermont Republic
.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. If the service was only in the Vermont National Guard
Vermont National Guard
The Vermont National Guard is composed of the Vermont Army National Guard and the Vermont Air National Guard. Green Mountain Boys, despite the inclusion of women in both branches since the mid-twentieth century. Flag of the Green Mountain Boys as their banner...
, they must have been activated during a conflict or be retired. The medal was established in 1999, but is retroactively available to veterans of prior military service.
The Vermont Veterans Medal is a state award. U.S. military active duty regulations allow their members to accept but not wear state awards. In addition, activated National Guard members may not wear their state awards while serving in Title 10 (federal) status.
Eligibility
- Must have been a Vermont resident when entered military; or be a current Vermont resident; or be a member of a reserve or guard unit stationed in Vermont.
- Received an honorable discharge, unless died prior to separation.
- If national guard/reserve service only, must have been brought on active duty during a period of conflict or must have retired.
Description
Following is the blazonBlazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
narrative describing the Vermont Veterans Medal:
The ribbons of the Vermont medals for veterans contain the four primary colors of the Coat of arms of Vermont
Coat of arms of Vermont
The coat of arms of Vermont is the official armorial bearings of the U.S. state of Vermont. Most of the elements found in the coat of arms originate in the Great Seal of Vermont designed by Ira Allen...
: red, yellow, blue and green.
The alternating red and yellow at the center of the ribbon loosely parallels the design and colors of the National Defense Service Medal, which is presented to military members with service during a time of conflict.
Field of azure blue encompasses the red and yellow, symbolizing the honor of military service.
Next, fields of green represent Vermont, the Green Mountain State, which reminds us that service to our nation is also service to the citizens of our state.
The edges of this ribbon are bordered in yellow. In the Vermont Coat of Arms
Coat of arms of Vermont
The coat of arms of Vermont is the official armorial bearings of the U.S. state of Vermont. Most of the elements found in the coat of arms originate in the Great Seal of Vermont designed by Ira Allen...
, bundles of wheat are shown in yellow. In this ribbon, they represent the protection offered our state by nature’s bounty.
The medal is cast in bronze, with the Coat of arms of Vermont on the obverse and the Great Seal of Vermont on the reverse. Across the top is inscribed “Vermont National Defense,” uniting the interests of our state with our nation.
The year “1777” is inscribed at the bottom, indicating the year of the Battle of Bennington
Battle of Bennington
The Battle of Bennington was a battle of the American Revolutionary War that took place on August 16, 1777, in Walloomsac, New York, about from its namesake Bennington, Vermont...
where Vermonters first took arms to defend their state in war, and the year of the founding of the Vermont Republic
Vermont Republic
The term Vermont Republic has been used by later historians for the government of what became modern Vermont from 1777 to 1791. In July 1777 delegates from 28 towns met and declared independence from jurisdictions and land claims of British colonies in New Hampshire and New York. They also...
.