The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
(Cite as: 20 V.S.A. § 1545)
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§ 1545. Vermont distinguished service medals
(a) The Governor may present in the name of the State of Vermont a distinguished service
medal, ribbon, lapel button, and certificate to an individual or the individual’s
spouse, child, parent, sibling, or grandchild if the individual is deceased, provided
the individual meets all the following eligibility criteria:
(1) Served on federal active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces in a combat theater of operations
during a war or emergency, as evidenced by service during any period of war prior
to April 6, 1916; foreign service during World War I or World War II; or receipt of
federal decorations showing combat-related service since January 1, 1947.
(2) Received an honorable discharge from federal active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces
or died before separating from federal active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or was
declared missing in action by the U.S. Department of Defense; or is currently a member
in good standing on federal active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces with more than four
years of service.
(3) Is a current resident of Vermont or was a resident of Vermont at the time of entry
into military service or was mobilized to federal active duty while a member of the
Vermont National Guard or other reserve unit located in Vermont, regardless of the
resident’s home of record.
(b) The distinguished service medal shall conform to MIL-DTL-3943 and the State specification
sheets; the ribbon shall conform to MIL-DTL-11589 as to quality and construction;
and the lapel button shall conform to MIL-DTL-11484. The State specification sheets
and original model shall be kept by the Secretary of State.
(c) Application for a distinguished service medal may be made to the Office of Veterans’
Affairs. The Office of Veterans’ Affairs shall also design, cast, and procure the
distinguished service medals, and maintain and verify records and documents pertaining
to the medals and awards. Approved applicants may choose to receive the medal by mail
or in a ceremony with the Governor or a representative of the Governor. (Added 1999, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 12c; amended 2005, No. 100 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. March 23, 2006; 2007, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2021, No. 20, § 147.)