RECOGNITION MEDAL
Created December 27, 2002

“The RECOGNITION MEDAL is awarded to the military who, in campaign situation or in associated circumstances, as well as in other mission in national territory or abroad, specially humanitarian or peace missions, have been deprived of freedom”.

This medal, the last to be created, in the 2002 legislation, responded to the many demands of the veterans, mainly those who fought in India, 1961, and that became Prisoners of War. They were forgotten by the Portuguese Government, which refused to accept the Indian conditions for POW release – only civilian ships or aircrafts could land on Indian soil. Many POW returned home on their own expenses, in commercial flights, or with the help of local populations in Goa, Damão and Diu.

OBVERSE: 5 pointed star, each point ending in a small armilar sphere; in the center, a disc with a national emblem, encircled by the legend «RECONHECIMENTO» (Recognition), in uppercase elzevir font;
REVERSE: identical to the obverse, but with the legend «A QUEM SE SACRIFICOU PELA PÁTRIA» (To him/her who sacrificed for the Fatherland) in the center disc, in uppercase elzevir font, in 6 lines; encircling the legend, a laurel wreath..

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SOURCES:

- Decreto-Lei n.º 316/2002 de 27 de Dezembro - Regulamento da Medalha Militar e das Medalhas Comemorativas das Forças Armadas.

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