Posthumous recognition

Posthumous recognition

A posthumous recognition is a ceremonial award given after the recipient has died, usually in honor of an action associated with their death.

Awards are normally given while the recipient is alive, but when awarded after death, the recipient is referred to as having been "awarded posthumously." Some awards are given "only" after the death of the recipient, and thus are by definition a posthumous recognition. Conversely, some awards, such as the Nobel Prize, and most knighthoods, are forbidden from being awarded posthumously.

Examples

*As part of the criteria for bestowing the Medal of Honor or the Victoria Cross, the recipient must have risked "great self-sacrifice" in an act of extraordinary heroism. As a consequence, many are awarded posthumously because the recipient was either killed outright or mortally wounded during the action in which the medal was awarded.
*The tongue-in-cheek Darwin Award is often given as a posthumous recognition, since one of the criteria for receiving it is that the recipient must have committed an act that unintentionally led to their own removal from the human gene pool, "i.e.," either their own death or self-sterilization.
*The victims of the Virginia Tech massacre have been awarded posthumous degrees.
*Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon were the first soldiers to be awarded Medals of Honor posthumously since the Vietnam War. They received these for defending a crashed helicopter from hundreds of advancing Somalis in the Battle of Mogadishu.
*Jeanne Eagels was the only actress to be nominated for an Academy Award (1929) after her death. James Dean was the first actor (1955, and again in 1956). Spencer Tracy, Peter Finch, Sir Ralph Richardson and Massimo Troisi were similarly recognized, though Finch is the only actor or actress to actually win the award posthumously. Heath Ledger is a favorite to win a posthumous Oscar for his performance in The Dark Knight (2008), having already been confirmed for receiving the Chauvel Award [cite news
title = Ledger to get posthumous award
publisher = The Australian
date = 2008-07-18
url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24039899-12377,00.html
] posthumously. For full details of such nominations and awards, see List of posthumous Academy Award winners and nominees.
*Pelle Lindbergh (G, Philadelphia Flyers) in 1986 and Sean Taylor (FS, Washington Redskins) in 2008 were each posthumously elected to their respective All-Star Games as starters for the season during which they died. (Lindbergh to the NHL All-Star Game and Taylor to the NFL's Pro Bowl.)

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Posthumous — may refer to: * Posthumous birth, a birth that occurs after the death of the child s parent * Posthumous degree, an academic degree conferred after the death of the recipient * Posthumous execution, ceremonial execution of someone already dead *… …   Wikipedia

  • Recognition (sociology) — Recognition in sociology is public acknowledgement of person s status or merits (achievements, virtues, service, etc).When some person is recognized , he or she is accorded some special status, such as a name, title, or classification.… …   Wikipedia

  • Air Force Recognition Ribbon — Infobox Military Award name=Air Force Recognition Ribbon caption=Air Force Recognition Ribbon awarded by=Department of the Air Force type=Ribbon eligibility= status=Current first award= last award= total= posthumous= recipients= individual=… …   Wikipedia

  • Pope John Paul II — John Paul II John Paul II in 1993 Papacy began 16 October 1978 Papacy ended 2 April 2005 ( 1000000000000002600000026 years, 1000000 …   Wikipedia

  • Billy Mitchell (general) — For other people named Billy Mitchell, see Billy Mitchell (disambiguation). William (Billy) Mitchell Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, United States Army Air Service …   Wikipedia

  • Aaliyah — This article is about the singer. For her self titled album, see Aaliyah (album). Aaliyah …   Wikipedia

  • Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis — Birth name Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis Born 22 September 1875( …   Wikipedia

  • Alex Baroni — Infobox Musical artist Name = Alex Baroni Background = solo singer Birth name = Alessandro Baroni Born = birth date|1966|12|22 Died = death date and age|2002|4|13|1966|12|22 Origin = Milan, Italy Genre = Pop rock, soul, ballad Occupation = Singer …   Wikipedia

  • Lucille Ball — Pin up photo from Yank, the Army Weekly Born Lucille Désirée Ball August 6, 1911( …   Wikipedia

  • Billy Mitchell — Infobox Military Person name= William (Billy) Mitchell born= birth date|1879|12|28 died= Death date and age|1936|2|19|1879|12|28 placeofbirth=Nice, France placeofdeath= New York City, New York placeofburial=Forest Home Cemetery caption= Brigadier …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”