Medals Presentation and Replacement

During World War II, shortages of metal prevented the production of medals for service and valor.  Many veterans left the military with service ribbons but without the accompanying medals.

KDVA helps veterans obtain those medals, and medals they may have lost to fire, theft or change of residence.

Click here for the Guide to Obtaining Veterans Medals. [82K]  (Print one of the sample letters, fill it out and mail it to the appropriate address listed in the Guide.)

At the request of a veteran or veteran's family, a KDVA representative will personally present replacement medals to the veteran.

At the Thomson-Hood Veterans Center, KDVA has made a special effort to ensure that all of its veterans, particularly those veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, receive the medals they have earned.

THVC has conducted several public ceremonies to present those medals to THVC's veterans.

In the spring of 2007, KDVA worked with East Jessamine Middle School to enable technology students there to construct shadow boxes to display medals presented to THVC's veterans.

Students built 25 boxes for the medals presentation in June, and another 60 for the medals presentation in September.

At the September presentation, the students attended and helped present the displayed medals themselves.

 

Click here if you need help ordering replacement medals.

US veterans who helped in the liberation of France during World War II can be eligible to receive the French Legion of Honor Medal, created to celebrate extraordinary contributions to the country.
 
To be eligible for this outstanding award, you must fit the following strict criteria:
You must have fought on French territory in one or more of the four main campaigns of the Liberation of France: Normandy, Southern France, Northern France and the Ardennes.

You must have also been awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal or higher distinctions.  These citations must have been issued during WWII or the close aftermath and relate to outstanding actions, wounds, having been take prisoner of war, that took place on French soil only.  Please note that actions taking place in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg or other border European countries will not be taken into account.
 
In order to be complete the application for this award, the Consulate must receive all of the following information at 205 North Michigan Ave. - Suite 3700 – Chicago, IL 60601:

•     A legible copy of your discharge/separation papers. It will help verify your military history.
•     Copies of the citations for military awards you received (I.E. Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal or higher distinctions).
•     A description of your combat actions during the war, especially those that occurred while on French soil.
•     Your current telephone number and mail address.
 
The Legion of Honor is the highest distinction awarded by France, thus only a few medals are issued each year. Applications are throughly reviewed and considered however,  due to the high volume of requests that we receive, the process of nomination or rejection of an applicant can take several months.