Honours and Awards Korea Veterans Association

Syngman Rhee, 40 Year, Ambassador of Peace, 5 Year, Medal of Merit & DSS
Please note the order of mounting senior medal right to left, more than 5 overlapped

1. National Honours and Awards Rules & Regulation

a. The Distinguished Service Star (D.S.S.) The Distinguished Service Star is the highest award that may be bestowed upon a member of the Korea Veterans Association. It represents a distinguished career of service by the recipient to the Association over a period of many years.

b. Performance and achievements shall be of an extremely high caliber. These achievements shall be well beyond the normal expectations for carrying out the duties of any office. Participation beyond the Unit level, in particular, service to the Region or National shall be considered. However, exceptional service at the Unit level may be one of the deciding factors. (Note: Only K.V.A. related activities will be considered in issuing the awards.)

c A nominee must have at least two (2) years between the awarding of the Bar of Merit and being nominated for the D.S.S. Nominations may be received from any of the following: 1. Unit Level, 2. Region Level and 3. The National Level.

d. To receive this prestigious award, the nominee must have noticeably set himself above other members in the performance, attitude and achievements.

e. The nominee shall have worked diligently over a number of years for the benefit of all members of the Association.

f. The Nominee shall have properly and regularly represented the Association at various meeting and social functions.

g. A proven record as a Unit Officer and a volunteer worker on behalf of his Unit over a period of more than five years. Administration:

h. The D.S.S. will be a one-time award with no bars or claps. B.A miniature of the D.S.S. and a framed certificate will also be presented. C. The cost of the D.S.S. will be paid for by K.V.A. of Canada. D. Presentation of the Distinguished Service Star will be made at a time and place chosen by the recipient if at all possible.

2. Consideration for nomination of DSS.

To nominate a member of your unit, a Unit President should take in consideration the following: Time served as a Unit Director, Time served as a Unit Officer, Position held as a National or regional Executive, Special projects carried out by the nominee and any other K.V.A. related activities. Note: before the DSS is issued the following procedure must be followed.

a. Each Region President must review the nominations from their Region.

b. It is imperative that the laid down criteria has been met.

c. The Region President will forward the application to the Honours and Awards Chairman for the consideration of the D.S.S. Committee.

d. After the Committee decision has been rendered. The Honours and Awards Chairman will notify the National President, Vice President and all Region Presidents of this decision, either the granting or denying of the Award.

e. The Region President will notify the Unit President of the decision the Unit President will ascertain where the recipient would like the Award presented and notify the Region President. If possible, and if so desired, a National Officer or his delegate will assist in the presentation.

3. Medal of Merit: The Medal of Merit will be awarded to:

a. Founding Members of K.V.A. Canada.

b. Names which appear on Charters of Units.

c. Past National, Regional or Unit President.

d. On very special occasions it will be awarded to deserving regular members only of the Korea Veterans Association with a recommendation from the Unit's President, Executive Committee and the Unit's Honours & Awards Director.

4. Bar of Merit:

a. The Bar of Merit will be awarded to a member who has previously received the Medal of Merit, and has continued to perform exceptional service to his/her unit.

b. Only one Bar can ever be presented to a member.

c. This Bar should only be Award in special occasions to deserving members and must be recommended by the Unit's, Region or National Presidents and review by the Executive Committee.

5. Certificate of Merit:

Will be awarded to deserving regular members at the discretion of the Unit' President and the Executive Committee.

6. Certificate of Appreciation:

Will be awarded to deserving regular and honorary member at the discretion of the Unit's President and the Executive Committee,

7. Service Medal:

This Medal may be awarded to a Regular member and Honorary members in good standing who has completed 5 consecutive years as a "paid up" member of K.V.A. Canada.

8. Bars: To Medal of Merit

a. Founding Members Bar.

b Bar of Merit.

c. Charter Members Bar.

d Past National President Bar.

e Past Regional President Bar.

f Past Unit President Bar.

g. Past Officer Bar. This Bar may be awarded to a Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer or Sgt at Arms after completing his full term of office. This Bar will cover service done at the Unit, Regional or National Level, only one Past Officer Bar can be worn by a member.

9. Service Bar: (To be mount d on the Service Medal)

a. 10 year Bar.

b. 5 year Bar.

c. 20 year Bar.

d. 25 year Bar.

e.30 year Bar.

Note: (Only one Bar of Service is to be worn on your Service Medal, a, b, c, d, e, mentioned above will be awarded to a member after serving his full term in office, 2 years at National, Regional or Unit level.)

10. Ambassador for Peace Medal:

This Medal will be presented to members who participated in the revisit program. A small number of Ambassador of Peace Medals that is received from the Seoul Korean Veterans Association will be presented to deserving members who are unable to make the revisit to Korea for Medical reasons. (A Doctor's certificate and explanation must be presented to the Regional President for approval. Then depending on the allotment of Medals to each Region, the Regional President will select a name or names and forward them to the National's Honours & Awards Chairman.)

11. The 40th Year Commemorative Medal:

This Commemorative Medal may be worn with medals awarded by K.V.A. Honours & Awards, (This medal may be awarded to recipient who were members of K.V.A. Canada and or IFKWVA affiliate prior to 27 July 1993) (This Medal must be ordered through the Unit's Honours & Awards Director.)

12. Korean War Service Medal (Syngman Rhee):

The Korean War Service Medal is authorized in accordance with President Order No. 390, by Hon. Syngman Rhee President of the Republic of Korea for Service in Connection with Military Operations in Korea 1950 - 1953. This Medal should also be worn with medals awarded through K.V.A. Honours & Awards. (This Medal must be ordered through the Unit's Honours & Awards Director.)

13. Proper mounting order for the Korea Veterans Association of Canada Medals: Facing the Medals from the right to the left:

a. Distinguished Service Star.

b. Medal of Merit

c. 5 year Service Medal.

d. Ambassador for Peace Medal.

e. 40th Anniversary commemorative Medal.

f. The Korean War Service Medal (Syngman Rhee).

The proper Mounting and Order of Bars for the Korea Veterans Association of Canada are as follows.

a. On the Service Medal one bar only representing your years of service.

b. On the Medal of Merit starting from the top of the Ribbon: Founding Member Bar, Bar of Merit, Charter member Bar, Past National President Bar, Past Regional President Bar, Past Unit President Bar and Past Officer Bar.

It is appreciated that we, the members of the Korea Veterans Association, are no longer in the Armed Forces and we tend towards personal preferences in dress. This has become evident in the wearing of both service and association medals and awards. The preceding pages are designed to clarify the K.V.A., Canada, By-Laws relating to Honours & Awards and should be a guide to all members in presenting a uniform appearance as veterans proud of our service to our country and as members of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada.

Canadian Policy requires Government approval before an order, decoration or medal can be awarded to one citizens. Otherwise, Canada will not recognize the honour, and it cannot be worn with national honours. (ee: Syngman Rhee medal)

When an award has been approved, but the member dies before it can be presented, the unit may present it to a family member.

Note: Awards, both official government and K.V.A. Canada awards may be worn ONLY by the person to whom they are awarded.

17. Replacement of K.V.A. Medals:

Replacement of KVA Medals (With the exception of the Ambassador for Peace Medal) may be ordered at cost to the members through your unit Honours & Awards Director.

Please Note: Replacement of Military Service Medals:

To avoid long delays when applying for replacement/lost medals you should use the following address.

Veterans Affairs Canada
Honours & Awards
66 Slater Street
Ottawa, On., K1A 0P4

Paul E.G. Rochon
National Honours & Awards and D.S.S.
Committee Chairman
December 4, 1998
Revised: March 18, 2006

Note: This was extracted from and layout changed from the memo to the Presidents of the KVA Units from the Chairman of the Honours & Award Committee Paul Rochon