Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/343

 LIPPE-DETMOLD (PRINCIPALITY.)

DECORATIONS OF HONOUR.

1. The Military Medal of Merit, in bronze, (Nos. 1 and 2), was founded 16th May, 1832, for long military service, or peculiar distinction in war.

2. The Civil Medal of Merit, in silver, was founded in 1816 by the same Prince, Paul Alexander Leopold. The obverse contains an oaken branch with the words between the leaves: ‘Des Verdienstes Anerkennung’ (Acknowledgment of merit), while the reverse shows the Lippe rose, with a forget-me-not garland below, which means: ‘The fatherland will never forget merit. The medal is worn suspended by a crimson ribbon with yellow stripes near the ends.