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Independence Medal (Lithuania)

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Type
  
State Decoration

Independence Medal (Lithuania)

Awarded for
  
Restoration of Lithuania's independence

In Lithuania, the Independence Medal (Lithuanian: nepriklausomybės medalis) is a state medal of Lithuania, awarded for the contributions in the restoration of the independence of the state. The medal had two issues.

Contents

1928 issue

The medal was awarded to persons "for contributions to the re-establishment and strengthening of the independence of Lithuania in 1919-1928"

The medal was issued commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Republic. It was designed by sculptor Juozas Zikaras.

The awardee categories included:

  • Lithuanian book smugglers (knygnešiai), who smuggled the Lithuanian language books during the prohibition of the Lithuanian language in Russian Empire
  • participants of the Lithuanian Wars of Independence of 1918-1920
  • Knights of the Cross of Vytis
  • members of the 1923 Klaipėda Revolt
  • riflemen and persons who had joined the public service in the early days of independence (1918-1919).

    During 1928-1940, over 44 thousand of Lithuanian citizens and foreign nationals were awarded the medal. It was a historical analogue of the 1928 issue.

    2000 issue

    The medal was awarded to persons "for distinction in the cause of restoration and consolidation of the Independent State of Lithuania during the period from 1990 to 2000"

    The medal was reestablished on July 1, 2000 and discontinued on March 1, 2001.

    On the reverse of the reinstated medal the original dates “1918-1928” were replaced with “1990-2000”.

    The awardee categories included:

  • participants of armed and unarmed resistance
  • volunteer militia
  • publishers of the Chronicle of the Lithuanian Catholic Church
  • founders of the Committee for Protection of the Rights of Believers
  • members of the Lithuanian Helsinki Group
  • members of the national rebirth movement "Sajudis"
  • members of the Reconstituent Seimas
  • signatories of the March 11 Act of the reestablishment of the independence
  • On July 1, 2000, the medal was issued to about 300 persons.

    References

    Independence Medal (Lithuania) Wikipedia