United States Medal for Merit (Civil)

United States Medal for Merit. The obverse has an American eagle with outstretched wings standing on a quiver of arrows that has the inscription 'NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM' superimposed on a blue enamel wreath with 13 white stars. The reverse has 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' on the circle at the top and 'FOR MERIT' on a panel between an olive wreath. The suspender is a fixed ring attached to a hinged green enamel (obverse only) wreath. The ribbon is dark pink with two white stripes down the centre. A brooch bar is sewn to the ribbon.

The President, under regulations to be prescribed by him, may award a decoration called the “Medal for Merit”, having distinctive appurtenances and devices and only one degree, to any civilian of any nation prosecuting the war in existence on July 20, 1942, under the joint declaration of the United Nations, as then constituted, or of any other friendly foreign nation, who, after September 8, 1939, has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding services. The Medal for Merit may be awarded to a civilian of a foreign nation but only for performing an exceptionally meritorious or courageous act in the furtherance of the war efforts of the United Nations as then constituted.