Antonio Prieto

Royal Decree 701/2020, of July 28 Commemorative medal of the Balmis operation to recognize the personnel participating in the fight against COVID-19. Royal Decree 1040/2003, of August 1, which approves the General Regulation of military rewards, in its third additional provision authorizes the creation, by royal decree, of commemorative medals and campaign medals to commemorate events of relevant significance for the Armed Forces or for the Homeland, as well as to highlight the participation of civilian or military personnel in certain military operations and campaigns, as recognition of the commemorative event or of participation in operations and campaigns. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization defined the public health emergency situation caused by COVID-19 as an international pandemic. The rapid evolution of events, at the national and international levels, has required the adoption of immediate and effective measures to face an unprecedented health crisis, among which is the intervention of the Armed Forces, within the framework of the "Operation Balmis". "Operation Balmis" has consisted of the integration of the operational, health, logistics, military police and infrastructure capacities belonging to the Military Emergency Unit, the General Health Inspection, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, made available to the competent authorities. The operation was activated from the declaration of the state of alarm decreed by the Government on March 14. This operation is part of the actions aimed at protecting the health and safety of citizens, containing the progression of the disease and strengthening the public health system in the national territory with the ultimate goal of saving lives. In it, the Armed Forces have mobilized in support of the civil authorities in the fight against the pandemic, carrying out presence missions by numerous points of the national geography, support for the State Security Forces and Corps, the disinfection of critical infrastructures, ports, airports, stations, hospital facilities, health centers, nursing homes, police facilities, essential public services, setting up of field hospitals, transportation of the deceased and the production of medical devices. As a consequence of the foregoing, it has been determined the advisability of creating a national medal that recognizes the participation of the personnel of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel assigned to the Ministry of Defense that has intervened in the fight against COVID-19, forming part of "Operation Balmis". The origin of the decorations lies in the need for any organized society to recognize and reward outstanding and worthy events done for their benefit. At the dawn of the 19th century, on May 17, 1829, the "epidemic distinction cross" was created, with the aim of rewarding the military surgeon Carlos Luis Benoit for his extraordinary and meritorious services during the Asian morbid epidemic that it devastated Manila in 1820. Likewise, this individual decoration was the basis of the civilian crosses of epidemics awarded in 1828 in the Gibraltar epidemic, in the 1838 and in the 1885 epidemic by the cholera of Zaragoza, to health, civil and military personnel that they provided their service in epidemic situations for which there were no vaccines, as is the current situation. Among the criteria that were included for its concession are the declaration of a contagious or epidemic situation, the existence of a mandate or invitation from the authority, the assistance without distinction of rich or poor and the active and effective cooperation provided. The name of the operation is a tribute to the military doctor Francisco Javier Balmis (1753-1819). The military scientist and surgeon Balmis stood out for his military career, participating in the 1780s in different campaigns with the Zamora Infantry Regiment, one of those assigned to the siege of Gibraltar during the War of Independence of the United States of America, war in the one that also participated in the American continent. There he developed his scientific work, especially through the study of botany, and indigenous plants with medicinal virtues and introducing new species in the Botanical Garden of Madrid. In the 1790s he began to be recognized for its scientific dimension, in addition to the military one, and as a physician and prominent paradigm of the enlightened of the moment, he was appointed honorary chamber surgeon of Carlos IV and dedicated himself to the dissemination of the vaccine against smallpox, discovered in 1796 by Edward Jenner. Confident in the possibility of being able to eradicate a disease that caused death to about 20 percent of the population, Balmis proposed to the monarch to take the vaccine to his dominions in America, a project that was submitted and approved by the Board of Chamber Surgeons. This gave the green light to the Royal Philanthropic Vaccine Expedition, whose direction was entrusted to its promoter. The port chosen for the departure was that of La Coruña and the means of transport, the corvette María Pita. Balmis was accompanied by the Catalan military surgeon José Salvany, deputy director of the company, two practitioners, three nurses, 22 children from the foundling house of the Galician capital, to inoculate and keep the vaccine during navigation, and, finally, the rector of the house, Isabel Zendal, to take care of them. The latter is considered the first female nurse to participate in an international military operation. The expedition, developed between 1803 and 1806, and led by the military doctor, enjoyed the military character impregnated by Balmis, and was characterized by seeking constant cooperation with the local authorities involved. The populations of the Canary Islands, America, the Philippines, Macao, Canton and Santa Elena Island were immunized, constituting one of the most important feats promoting public health and health education in the international arena. This royal decree complies with the principles of necessity and effectiveness that are justified by a reason of general interest based on recognition of the effective and prompt action of personal and material means assigned to the Ministry of Defense to fight the pandemic, and with the The principle of legal certainty as it is included in the framework of the premium law and, moreover, it complies with the principle of efficiency, since it does not imply any administrative burden. Regarding the principle of proportionality, it has the essential content to generate recognition of the actions of civilian and military personnel who have intervened in the creation and maintenance of "Operation Balmis" and, as regards the principle of transparency, is drafted in simple language and access to citizens is facilitated by publication in the "Official State Gazette". By virtue, in accordance with the provisions of article 149.1.4.ª of the Spanish Constitution, at the proposal of the Minister of Defense and after deliberation by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on July 28, 2020, I HAVE: Single article. Creation of the commemorative medal of «Operation Balmis». 1. The commemorative medal of "Operation Balmis" is created to recognize the personnel of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel assigned to the Ministry of Defense who have participated in the fight against COVID-19, within the framework of said operation. 2. By order of the Minister of Defense, all those aspects related to the procedure for the award of the medal, the description of the corresponding decoration and the measures that are necessary for its processing and annotation will be determined. Single additional provision. Extraordinary concession. This medal may be awarded, on an extraordinary and exceptional basis, to personnel not included in the scope of this royal decree who have participated with the Armed Forces in "Operation Balmis".

Parachute-rigger: person trained, empowered and certified by the aeronautical authority, for the task of folding and storing the parachute inside the backpack system in operational safety conditions

This is a (I)ntructor-(P)legador, combined instructor-rigger of the Spanish Air Force created by order of May 31, 1961 For the crown used until 1977 See https://coleccionesmilitares.com/emblemas/aire/ea1961.htm

This spanish Cavalry Regiment "Lusitania" https://coleccionesmilitares.com/emblemas/carros/rcl8.htm In the Battle of Madonna del Olmo (Piedmont), on September 30, 1744, the troops of the Kingdom of Sardinia tried to break the Spanish-French front line in the sector located between Madonna del Olmo and Lyonais. The Dragons of Numancia and Lusitania, who were in the second line, go to the threatened point. Both immediately go into fire, managing to stop the progression of the opponents. The Lusitania go on the counter attack. Her men try, by means of successive charges, to search for the flank of the attacking column, but they are themselves led from the left by the fire of the Sardinians, who shoot. This, together with the difficult compartmentalization of the land, based on ditches, ended up disorganizing the Regiment, succumbing two thirds of its troops and cattle under enemy lead, but the Sardinian troops will no longer be able to break the Spanish-French lines, retiring those at dusk. In this battle the Lusitania earned the nickname "Dragons of Death" and, in memory of it, King Felipe V granted the Regiment the privilege of carrying three skulls with crossbones on the cuffs.

See more ítems of the Spanish Air Force emblems at my web https://coleccionesmilitares.com/emblemas/aire/ea1935.htm (repros) https://coleccionesmilitares.com/emblemas/aire/2repea.htm (repros) https://coleccionesmilitares.com/emblemas/aire/rokeam.htm

Edited post with the images The emblem of the first image corresponds to the pilot and observer courses. It is after the Second World War, and made of silver, surely by an officer who wanted something more quality in the badge and had the money to pay the jeweler or artist. But this model does not look like Rokiski, because it does not bear the marks that it included in its pieces, as can be seen in one of the images

The red star above the emblem was used on various aviation badges in 1937 and 1938. A gold star on the propellers is that which marks the observer course as well as the pilot course. Of the wings model 1938 exist copies of Paul Meybauer In the same way there are indeed copies of jewelry made by Rokiski. Emblem of the Spanish Air Force, with four bladed gold propeller on a red enamelled circle, circumscribed a ring of sixteen zircons, in groups of four between the blades. Golden royal crown. Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics Collection: ES-DFMMAA. Signature: MAA-4165

The crown of this piece is used between 1946-1977 (open royal crown). The gilt 5 points star over the the propeller blades denote the aditionnal qualification of "observer" Wings for the period 1938-1946 (open royal crown) Insert other media Wing 1937-1938 for the Republican Air Force Wing 1936-1937 Wing 1913-1931 (royal crown)

Superbe. Thanks

See in turkish http://www.ozhanterfiye.com/metalbroveler.html 2 row, 6th: General Staff

See more about the decoratios of the Spanish Republic at: — "Las condecoraciones en la Segunda República Española”, Revista de Historia Militar, 117 (2015), pp. 231-289 https://publicaciones.defensa.gob.es/media/downloadable/files/links/R/E/REVISTAS_PDF3566.pdf include the awards of the Republican Government in the exile The President of the Republic, in exile from Paris, created by decree of September 3, 1947, the Order of the Liberation of Spain to reward the services provided by nationals or foreigners who would have distinguished themselves in an exceptional way defending the Spanish Republic or contributing to the restoration of democratic freedoms in the country. It had a civil character and consisted of the degrees of knight, commander and teacher. As an annexed section, the Order was in charge of issuing Diplomas of Friend of the Spanish Republic for those persons who have carried out acts worthy of such distinction. They were entitled to the use of a round and bronze medal as these of the image

Yes. Perhaps any administrator can move this post

The Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on establishment of “Mehr-Sakhovat” badge was adopted on May 26, 2020. The badge is awarded to Uzbekistan citizens for courage and bravery shown in overcoming the trials that our people had to endure during the widespread coronavirus pandemic http://uza.uz/en/society/uzbekistan-establishes-mehr-sakhovat-badge-27-05-2020

Draft Decree on Award for Fight Against COVID-19 is Available for Public Comment https://astanatimes.com/2020/05/draft-decree-on-award-for-fight-against-covid-19-is-available-for-public-comment/

Order of Valour (Nishani ya Ushujaa), Commander’s neck badge, 2016 Sources: http://www.ikuluzanzibar.go.tz/en/media/view/dk.shein-atunuku-nishani-za-mapinduziutumishi-wa-umma-na-ushujaa-katika-viw https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/zanzibar-order-of-valour-nishani-ya-ushujaa-comma-1381-c-8b94a3c979 https://theorienttreasures.com/shop-now/orders-medals-decorations/zanzibar-order-of-valour-courage-nishani-ya-ushujaa-commander-neck-badge-medal Source: https://www.facebook.com/ikuluzanzibar/posts/rais-wa-zanzibar-na-mwenyekiti-wa-baraza-la-mapinduzi-dkali-mohamed-shein-amewat/662850243905581/