Virtus et Fraternitas Medal

Virtus et Fraternitas Medal
Medal Virtus et Fraternitas
Obverse
TypeCommemorative decoration of merit
Country Poland
Presented bythe President of Poland
StatusCurrently awarded
Established9 November 2017
First awarded19 June 2019
Ribbon of the cross
Precedence
Next (higher)Cross of Freedom and Solidarity
Next (lower)Gold Cross of Merit
RelatedOrder of the Cross of Independence
Cross of Independence
Laureates of the Virtus et Fraternitas Medal in 2019

The Virtus et Fraternitas Medal (Polish name: Medal Virtus et Fraternitas; Latin for "Courage and Brotherhood") is a Polish state decoration established on 9 November 2017.

It is awarded by the President of Poland on recommendation of the director of the Pilecki Institute as a token of commemoration and gratitude to those who provided aid and assistance to Polish citizens against Soviet and Nazi Germany war crimes as well as other crimes motivated by nationalism committed between 1917–1990.[1] It is also bestowed to honor individuals who voluntarily keep alive the memory of those who did not survive the war or the forced deportations, and found their graves abroad.[2]

The medal has been conceptually compared to Yad Vashem's Righteous Among the Nations Awards.[3]

Design

The medal is round and silver. On the obsverse it is inscribed "VIRTUS ET FRATERNITATIS" (virtue and brotherhood). In the center of the medal carved stylized image of the White Eagle. The cross is 36 mm in diameter.[4]

The Virtus et Fraternitas Medal is suspended from a purple ribbon, 36 mm wide. Symmetrically arranged along the edges of the ribbon are gold stripes each 4 mm wide, both 4 mm from the edge.[4]

Recipients

See also: Category:Recipients of the Virtus et Fraternitas Medal

The medal was awarded for the first time on 19 June 2019. Among the awarded were:[5]

The second awarding of medals took place on June 2, 2021 at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. They were given to the following persons:[6]

The third award ceremony of medals took place on June 15, 2022 at the Belweder Palace in Warsaw. They were given to the following persons:[7]

On 20 December 2022 were decorated:[8]

  • Ilona Andrássy de Csíkszentkirály et Krasznahorka
  • Trofim Danieluk
  • Zinaida Samczuk
  • Hanna Skakalska (1905–1987)
  • Hanna Skakalska (1887–1966)
  • Musij Skakalski

On 6 July 2023 were decorated:[9][10]

  • Semen Biliczuk
  • Ustyna Kowtoniuk
  • Sawa Kowtoniuk
  • Paraskewa Padlewska
  • Lubow Parfeniuk
  • Anton Parfeniuk
  • Piotr Parfeniuk
  • Oksana Karpiuk
  • Jewhenia Bondaruk
  • Prokop Bondaruk
  • Anastasija Koreń
  • Mykoła Koreń
  • Sofia Kyc
  • Pawło Kyc
  • Herasym Łukiańczuk
  • Wołodymyr Kryżuk

On 17 December 2024 were decorated:[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Obwieszczenie Marszałka Sejmu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 17 stycznia 2019 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu ustawy o Instytucie Solidarności i Męstwa imienia Witolda Pileckiego". prawo.sejm.gov.pl (in Polish). 2019-01-17. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  2. ^ "Virtus et Fraternitas Medal - Instytut Pileckiego". instytutpileckiego.pl. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  3. ^ Mrozek, Witold (8 February 2018). "Rząd tworzy "polskie Yad Vashem". Instytut Solidarności i Męstwa będzie walczył o dobre imię Polski i honorował pomagających Polakom". wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  4. ^ a b "Rozporządzenie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 22 października 2018 r. zmieniające rozporządzenie w sprawie opisu, materiału, wymiarów, wzorów rysunkowych oraz sposobu i okoliczności noszenia odznak orderów i odznaczeń". prawo.sejm.gov.pl (in Polish). 2018-10-22. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  5. ^ "Prezydent wręczył Medale Virtus et Fraternitas". www.prezydent.pl (in Polish). 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  6. ^ "Ważna uroczystość! Prezydent odznaczył medalami Virtus et Fraternitas osoby ratujące Polaków. "Umieli pomóc, niezależnie od narodowości"". prezydent.pl. 19 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  7. ^ "Gala wręczenia Medali "Virtus et Fraternitas" 2022". gov.pl (in Polish). 15 June 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Medale Virtus et Fraternitas wręczone po raz kolejny". prezydent.pl. 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  9. ^ "Gala wręczenia Medali "Virtus et Fraternitas" 2023". Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego (in Polish). 2023-07-06. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  10. ^ Stuart Dowell (7 July 2023). "Poland awards Ukrainians who saved Poles during Wołyń massacre". thefirstnews. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Medale Virtus et Fraternitas dla obywateli Norwegii i Słowacji". dzieje.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-12-28.

See also