Republic of Cuba Distinci?n "28 de Septiembre"

[Stogieman]

Distinci?n "28 de Septiembre"

Medal for Distinction in service to the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution, founded September 28, 1960. In research.

Example of the medal ribbon:

[Stogieman]

Example of this medal:

[Stogieman]

Couple of new scans from Germany:

[Guest Rick Research]

front and back

Odd that the reverse is just pebbled, rather than the generic Council of State reverse-- or ANYTHINg, actually.

[Stogieman]

It seems that many (most?) of the Distinci?n medals have unique reverses

[Taz]

Distinci?n "28 de Septiembre"

CDR (Committee for the Defense of the Revolution)

The Comittee was founded on September 28, 1960 hense the name of this Medal with 122,000 chapters and eight million members, they constitute the largest mass organization in Cuba. They arose out of the need to unite the people in defense of the Revolution from hostile actions by the U.S.

Today they serve important tasks like organizing blood donations, immunization campaigns, spearheading neighborhood cleanup and beautification, collection of recyclable materials and environmental protection. All of this is done with the aim of protecting citizenry, property and community improvement.

[Stogieman]

Example of the document, exterior cover

[Stogieman]

Interior. Names obscured for security purposes

[Guest Rick Research]

Because we don't want to get anybody still living there in trouble, that's why.

[Ed_Haynes]

Cuba presents medals to Vietnam Fatherland Front leaders

Nhan Dan Last updated: 15:22 - October 7, 2005

The Standing Board of the Cuban Committee for Defence of the Revolution (CDR) has conferred "September 28" medals on leaders of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) on the occasion of its founding anniversary (September 28) in recognition of their contributions to developing friendship and solidarity between the two nations, especially the two mass organisations.

The medals were presented to Huynh Dam, VFF General Secretary; Le Truyen, VFF Vice President; and Ha Thi Lien, member of the VFF Standing Committee, at a ceremony held in Havana on October 6.

CDR President Juan Jose Fonseca warmly welcomed a delegation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front which visited Cuba at a time when his organisation was celebrating the 45th founding anniversary of CDR as a manifestation of the close solidarity between the two nations and mass organisations.

He stressed that the awards showed the Cuban people's warm sentiments to the Vietnamese people for their active support and assistance to Cuba in difficult times.

VFF Vice President Le Truyen thanked the CDR for the award as well as the Cuban people for their hospitality.

Also on this occasion, CDR leaders presented a painting of Jose Marti, a national hero of Cuba, to the VFF delegation. (VNA)

http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/news/071...mestic_cuba.htm

[Guest Rick Research]

So, we've seen a document from 1988, and this was still being handed out to local Party informers er neighborhood "watch" groups--internationally, yet--in 2005!

So far the only medals that have turned up are of the Staybrite type. I've now seen/handled three and they were all the same. Not that this small a statistical sample helps us much.

While the organization was created in 1960, I suspect the medal dates from much later.

But here again we are left with an enigma:

the vast majority of Cuban awards seem to follow DDR patterns-- as if MADE in the former DDR.

So were there stockpiles of 28 September medals, still being doled out after all these (16 now) years there has been no DDR or.... is it simply a question of exported DDR technology, being made IN Cuba?

This, by its nature, seems likely to be one of the most common Cuban awards--especially if handed out for decades. It would be hard to imagine that enough COULD have been ordered before the unforeseen collapse of the DDR to still be available NOW.

Unless, indeed, there are other "types" actually Out There that we have not seen... yet?

[Taz]

I recieved my Distinci?n "28 de Septiembre" today.

Mint condition not a scratch on it. No obvious differences to the other awards shown here.

It would seem likely that they are now made in Cuba, either that or the stockpile is huge.

Regards Eddie.