There are hundreds of military awards and decorations that are bestowed upon deserving individuals across the different branches of the U.S. Military. The Navy Cross is only second to the Medal of Honor and therefore considered to be one of the highest honors a member of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, or U.S. Coast Guard can earn. To add this to shadowboxes for Navy awards, a service member needs to have carried out individual acts of valor to earn the medal.
Here are a few interesting facts and history about the Navy Cross that you need to know about.
1. The Navy Cross is Awarded For Individual Acts of Heroism
The Navy Cross is not a group honor. It is bestowed by the Secretary of the Navy to recognize specific individual acts of valor. These acts often occur during combat or other active military operations.
The individual’s acts of valor must have occurred while engaged in military operations against an enemy force or while serving with friendly forces against an opposing force. The required heroism is of a lesser degree than the Medal of Honor but needs to have been performed with exceptional distinction.
In order to add the ribbon and medal to your shadowboxes for Navy awards, there is a nomination process that follows the act of exceptionalism in combat. The nomination package must be received and reviewed by the U.S. Department of the Navy.
2. It Was First Awarded In 1919
The Navy Cross was created in 1919 to honor service members who served in World War I. It was established through an act of Congress (Public Law 253) on 4th February 1919. The act defined it as an award to “any person who, while in the Naval Service of the United States, distinguished or who shall thereafter distinguish themselves by extraordinary heroism in their line of service.”
Congress limited the awarding of this honor to a combat-only recognition on August 7, 1942. It also elevated its status above the Distinguished Service Medal. This means it comes in just below the Medal of Honor. The original design of the Navy Cross was created by the Navy’s division of Pictorial Publicity, with James Earle Fraser being credited as the primary designer. Subtle variations have marked the Navy Cross’s evolution from its original design to the present day.
3. It Has Been Awarded Outside Marine Corps and Navy
Until the U.S. Coast Guard established its own Coast Guard Cross medal in 2010, their service members were eligible to receive the Navy Cross. Several members of the U.S. Army have also received the medal alongside a larger number of non-U.S. troops.
Shadowboxes for Navy awards allow you to create a reminder of your achievements and accomplishment for your service to the nation. You can order a sturdy box handcrafted with the finest materials to hang your decorations, medals, and awards, including the Navy Cross. You can opt for display cases that stand alone or hang on a wall to provide the attention they deserve.
The Navy Cross is the highest award for the member of the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marines, second only to the Medal of Honor. U.S. Shadows can help you obtain custom shadowboxes for Navy awards or even other U.S. Army shadowboxes to hang your medals and decorations, including the Navy Cross. For more information about how to acquire your military award display boxes, call us today.
