Civic Decoration (Belgium)

Civic Decoration (Belgium)
Civic Cross First Class (For Meritorious Service in the Administration) (Left) Civic Medal First Class (For Fire-Fighting) (Right)
Awarded by Kingdom of Belgium
Type	Cross or Medal
Eligibility	Belgian civilians
Awarded for	Meritorious service or exemplary behaviour or act
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
Established	21 July 1867
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Leopold II

The Civic Decoration (French: Décoration Civique, Dutch: Burgerlijke Ereteken) is a civil decoration of Belgium. It was created on 21 July 1867 to reward the services rendered to the country after a long and meritorious career in the administration, whether national, provincial or local, as well as for exceptional acts of bravery, devotion or humanity. A separate decoration was created for meritorious services as a firefighter.

On 18 May 1915, the Civic Decoration 1914-1915 (later 1918) was created to reward civilians and non-combatants who served their country with distinction during World War I. A similar Decoration was also created for World War II.

The Civic Decoration is solely awarded by Royal Decree, even though after the federalisation of Belgium the Regions and Communities seemingly thought that they could award this Decoration to their employees.

Classes

The Civic Decoration is awarded in two classes:

• The Civic Cross (further subdivided into a First and Second Class);
• The Civic Medal (further subdivided into a First, Second and Third Class).

These classes are common for all types of Civic Decoration.

Insignia

The badge of the Civic Cross is a white enamelled maltese cross with the central medallion bearing the monogram of King Leopold I or of King Albert I (for the 1914-1918 Cross) on the obverse and reverse. Between the arms of the Cross are:

• Crossed swords for the Civic Cross 1914-1918 and 1940-1945;
• A Burgundy Cross for the Civic Cross for administrative services and for services as a firefighter.

The metal of the Cross is gold for the First Class and Silver for the Second Class.

The Medal shows the shape of the Civic Cross imprinted in a metal shape that is vaguely octagonal and looks like a closed florian cross. For the Medals 1914-1918 and 1940-1945, the medal is topped with crossed swords. The metal of the Medal is gold for the First Class, Silver for the Second Class and Bronze for the Third Class.

The ribbons of the Civic Decoration differ in function of the type of award:

• The ribbon is red with three vertical black stripes when the Decoration is awarded for long and distinguished service in the administration;
• The ribbon is red with two vertical black stripes bordered on each side by a yellow line when the Decoration is awarded for exceptional acts of bravery, devotion or humanity;
• The ribbon is green with two vertical white stripes when the Decoration is awarded for long and distinguished service as a firefighter;
• The ribbon is pale green with vertical black, yellow and red stripes on each edge (black towards the center) and a central vertical gold stripe for the Decoration 1914-1918;
• The ribbon is saffron with vertical black, yellow and red stripes on each edge (red towards the center) and a central vertical black stripe for the Decoration 1940-1945.

The ribbon of the 1914-1918 and of the 1940-1945 Decoration is adorned with a metal bar showing the years of the war.

Award Conditions

The Civic Decoration for long and distinguished service in the administration is awarded:

• Civic Cross: for 35 years of meritorious service, with the First Class awarded to employees of higher rank;
• Civic Medal: for 25 years of meritorious service, with the First Class awarded to employees of higher rank.

It seems that the Civic Medal Third Class is no longer awarded.

The Decoration for exceptional acts of bravery, devotion or humanity is awarded on a case-by-case basis.

See also

List of Belgian decorations

References

• Royal Decree of 21 July 1867 Creating the Civic Decoration
• Royal Decree of 15 January 1885 Extending to the Civil Functions of the State Administration the Decree Creating the Civic Decoration
• Royal Decree of 18 May 1915 Creating the Civic Decoration for Acts Performed During the War of 1914-1915
• Circular of 27 May 2004 Concerning the Civic Decoration and Other Honours
• Borné A.C., Distinctions honorifiques de la Belgique, 1830-1985 (Bruxelles: 1985)
• Van Hoorebeke P., 175 Ans de l'Ordre de Léopold et les Ordres Nationaux Belges (MRA: 2007)

External links

• The Civic Decoration at Mauquoy Medal Company, one of the last manufacturers of the decoration
• The Civic Decoration 1914-1918 at Northeast Medals
• History and pictures of the Civic Decoration 1914-1918
• Information about Belgium orders Website BONNE & VERBEKE (in Dutch)