Order "Military Merit".

[Taz]

Ordinul "Meritul Militar"
1954 - 1989

The Order of Military Merit was instituted in 3 classes on June 10, 1954 with decree No. 211. This was a long service and good conduct order with class III awarded for 15 years of service, class II for 20 years of service and class I for 25 years of service.

The medal is composed of a 5 pointed red enameled star surrounded by a laurel wreath. The central medallion is blue bordered in yellow. Three stars and the words, "MERITUL MILITAR" (translated: Military Merit) are written in gold lettering within this border. The seal of the Romanian Republic (R.S.R or R.P.R) is affixed in the center of the medallion.

The medal is suspended from the distinctive communist tri-fold ribbon. It is light blue flanked with dark blue on the edges. A single thin red stripe runs down the middle of the ribbon.

The 3 grades of the order were differentiated by the color of the wreath. Class I was in gold (gilt), class II was silvered, and the class III was in bronze.

There are 2 types of this order. The 'type 1' medals have a smaller national seal and were awarded under the Romanian People's Rebublic (R.P.R.) R.P.R. can be seen on the national seal's scroll in very tiny lettering.

Type 2 has a larger seal and the letters R.S.R. (Romanian Socialist Republic). Because the seal is larger, the letters can clearly be seen without the aid of magnification.

Eddie.

The image below shows an example of the R.P.R. on the seal.