The Cross of Merit () is a Polish civil state

decoration Decoration may refer to: * Decorative arts * A house painter and decorator's craft * An act or object intended to increase the beauty of a person, room, etc. * An award that is a token of recognition to the recipient intended for wearing Other ...

established on 23 June 1923, to recognize services to the state.

History

At the time of its establishment in 1923, the Cross of Merit was the highest civilian award in Poland. It was awarded to citizens who went beyond the call of duty in their work for the country and society as a whole. May be awarded twice in each grade to the same person. File:Gold Cross of Merit (obv) (People's Republic Issue).jpg, Gold Cross of Merit issued by the People's Republic File:Silver Cross of Merit (obv) (People's Republic Issue).jpg, Silver Cross of Merit issued by the People's Republic

The Order

The Order has three grades:

Recipients

Gold Cross of Merit

* Ewa Hojna, 13 May 2022, Director of Polish School Cultural Association (ACEP), Spain * Jan-Krzysztof Duda, 2021,

chess grandmaster Grandmaster (GM) is a title awarded to chess players by the world chess organization FIDE. Apart from World Champion, Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can attain. Once achieved, the title is held for life, though exceptionally it h ...

* Wanda Paulina Gluszek, 2016, political activist, poet, Chicago, Illinois * Michał Korwin-Szymanowski, also known as Michel Korwin, 2015, Montréal, Canada *

John P. Lynch John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

, 3 November 2014, CEO and founder of Lynka *

Philippe Blain Philippe Georges Antoine Blain (born 20 May 1960) is a French professional volleyball coach and former player. He was a member of the France national team in 1984–1987, and a participant at the Olympic Games Seoul 1988. Blain is the current ...

, 27 October 2014, coach of Poland men's national volleyball team – World Champions 2014 * Fabian Drzyzga, 27 October 2014, volleyball player, World Champion 2014 *

Mateusz Mika Mateusz Włodzimierz Mika (born 21 January 1991) is a Polish professional volleyball player, a former member of the Poland national team. A participant in the Olympic Games Rio 2016, 2014 World Champion, and the 2012 Polish Champion with Assec ...

, 27 October 2014, volleyball player, World Champion 2014 * Karol Kłos, 27 October 2014, volleyball player, World Champion 2014 * Michał Kwiatkowski, 2014, Polish road cyclist * Andrzej Wrona, 27 October 2014, volleyball player, World Champion 2014 * Paweł Zatorski, 27 October 2014, volleyball player, World Champion 2014 * Joanna Zawadzka, 2 May 2014, community activist living in Scotland, director of Polish Cultural Festival Association * Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm, 20 June 2014, U.S.-based writer and academic * Katarzyna Maria Dziewanowska, 26 September 2013, scientific research, University of Idaho * Elwira Grossman, August 2013, Scotland * John Dodunski, March 2013, New Zealand * Robert Dodunski, March 2013, New Zealand * Bogdan Labecki, 2013 * Margaret Scannell née Dodunski, March 2013, New Zealand * Michal Kuleczka, 2013"Government House (Award to Canadians)". Canada Gazette. Vol. 147, No. 8 — 23 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013 from: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2013/2013-02-23/html/gh-rg-eng.html * Thomas Gabriel Grasza Esq, 11 November 2011, postage stamp and coin sesigner and noted Canadian-Polish philatelist of four decades * Izabella Zielińska, 2011, Polish pianist * Bronisław Oczkowski, 14 December 2010, Melbourne, Australia * Geertjan Lassche, 2007, Dutch reporter and documentary film maker * Tomasz Miśkiewicz, Silver Cross of Merit 2006, mufti, for work with the immigrant and native Islamic Youth, Gold Cross of Merit 2011, for work with the Muslim minorities, and for interfaith dialogue * Małgorzata Kalinowska-Iszkowska, 2005, Polish computer scientist *

Agata Mroz-Olszewska Agata may refer to: * AGATA (organization), a Lithuanian non-profit performing rights organization Name * Agata (given name) * Agata (surname) Places *Agata Station, a train station in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan Physics * AGATA (gamm ...

, 2005, volleyball player, double European champion team member, 2003 and 2005 *

Adam Skorek Adam Waldemar Skorek (December 24, 1956) is a Canadian University professor and a Polish engineer. He was born in Krzczonów, Lublin, Poland. Education He completed Master of Sciences in Electrical Engineering Program at Białystok Technical Uni ...

, 2004 * Ryszard Antoni Kuśmierczyk, August 2002, Engineer and community leader based ub Windsor, Ontario, Canada *

Alojzy Nowak Alojzy Zbigniew Nowak (born 20 March 1956) is a Polish economist. In 2020 he was elected Rector of the University of Warsaw. Life and education In 1984 he graduated with a master's degree from the SGH Warsaw School of Economics. In 1991 he ear ...

, 2002 * Jerzy Zralski, 2000, II WW veteran and writer."Government House (Award to Canadians)". Canada Gazette. Vol. 134, No. 43 — 21 October 2000. from: www.http://publications.gc.ca/gazette/archives/p1/2000/2000-10-21/pdf/g1-13443.pdf * Stanis ław Nosal, 1979, Polish Colonel of the 5th Rocket Artillery Battalion in Modlin Fortress, Poland. *

Witold Bełza Witold Stanisław Kazimierz Bełza (8 May 1886 – 24 February 1955) was a Polish librarian, writer, publicist and cultural activist. He was the director of the Provincial and Municipal Public Library of Bydgoszcz from 1920 to 19 ...

, 1938, Polish librarian, writer, publicist and cultural activist. *

Michael Biegler Michael Biegler (born 5 April 1961) is a German handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkeeper) pass a ba ...

, German head coach of the

Poland national handball team The Poland men's national handball team is controlled by the Polish Handball Association (''Związek Piłki Ręcznej w Polsce''), and represents Poland in international matches. Honours Competitive record Olympic Games World Champio ...

* Jan Bujak, July 1984, Corporate owner *

Stanisław Sylwester Alfonzy Grodyński Stanisław Sylwester Alfonzy Grodyński (baptized ''Stanisław Sylwester Alfonzy Kusionowicz''; 4 November 1898 – 27 August 1971) - lawyer, governor and Polish military intelligence officer. On 7 September 1906 Stanisław's father, Andrzej ...

, 1939, Polish Governor (Starost), military intelligence officer, lawyer. *

Stanisław Horno-Popławski Stanisław Horno-Popławski (1902-1997) was a Russian-Polish painting, painter, Sculpture, sculptor and Pedagogy, pedagogue. Life Stanisław's mother was Maria-Natalie-Agripina Popłavskaya (russian: Мария-Натали-Агрипина По� ...

, 1952, Polish

painter Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...

, sculptor and pedagogue. *

Ryszard Jurkowski Ryszard Piotr Jurkowski (born 28 May 1945) is a Polish architect and urban planner noted for his contemporary and embracing minimalism design of residential, commercial, educational, industrial and civic buildings, and for his fight against the ...

, Silver and Gold Cross of Merit, Polish architect * Jerzy Łucki, August 1995, Toronto, Canada * A.E.G.Jung, September 1995, Stellenbosch, South Africa *

Marian Machowski Marian Machowski (1 October 1932 – 5 January 2022) was a Polish footballer and researcher specialising in the field of mining and mining machinery. As a footballer, he played as a right winger, spending most of his career with Wisła Kraków. ...

, Polish footballer and researcher * Krzysztof Kazimierz Miller, 1964, architect, urbanist * Agnieszka Radwańska, tennis player * Bronisława Rychter-Janowska, 1939, Cracovian artist. * Moses Schorr, Rabbi, Polish historian, politician, bible scholar, assyriologist and orientalist *

Stefania Skwarczyńska Stefania Skwarczyńska ''de domo'' (17 November 1902 in Kamionka Strumiłowa – 28 April 1988 in Łódź) was a Polish theorist and historian of literature, theatrologist, full professor, doctor ''honoris causa'' of the University of Łódź, ...

, Polish theorist and historian of literature, theatrologist, full professor, honorary doctor of the University of Łódź, World War II resistance fighter *

Captain Raymond Delver Smith Carrington J.P. Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

, 1990, for distinguished and outstanding service to Poland and its people *

Henri Strzelecki Henryk Strzelecki (4 October 1925 – 26 December 2012), known as Henri Strzelecki, was a Polish fashion designer living a substantial part of his life in the United Kingdom. Strzelecki and Angus Lloyd co-founded the British clothing label, Henr ...

, 1990, co-founder of Henri Lloyd. *

Arthur Szyk Arthur Szyk (Polish: �artur ʃɪk June 16, 1894 – September 13, 1951) was a Polish artist who worked primarily as a book illustration, book illustrator and political artist throughout his career. Arthur Szyk was born into a prosperous mi ...

, 1931, Polish-Jewish fine artist, book illustrator, and political artist. *

Józef Weyssenhoff Józef Weyssenhoff (8 April 1860 – 6 July 1932) was a Polish novelist, poet, literary critic, publisher. Close to the National Democracy (Poland), National Democracy political movement after 1905, he paid tribute to the tradition of the Polish ...

, 1932, Polish writer, novelist, poet, literary critic, publisher. *

Afanasij Poliszczuk Afanasij Poliszczuk (born 28 April 1903, date of death unknown) was a Ukrainian Soviet military officer, Brigadier General of the Polish Army and a veterinarian. He came from Ukraine. He ended four-year veterinary school and five-year studies at I ...

, 1946, veterinary service chief in the First Polish Army

Silver Cross of Merit

Maria Boniecka Maria Antonina Boniecka (19 June 1910 – 19 June 1978) was a Polish author and teacher, who also served in the Polish Home Army during the Second World War. She received several awards, including the Silver Cross of Merit, the Home Army Cross, t ...

, 1937, work with illiterate adults * Francis K. Czyzewski, 4 July 1939, writer, astronomer, meteorologist, photographer, playwright, WSBT Polish Hour radio program host, life member of the solar division of the American Variable Star Observers at Harvard College Observatory (1951); former president, Polish-American Central Civic Committee; staff writer, South Bend Tribune; South Bend, Indiana *

Adela Dankowska Adela Stanisława Dankowska (born 5 January 1935 in Sobienie-Jeziory) is a retired Polish aviator and politician. She was a glider pilot and the coach of the Polish national gliding team, and also served as a member of Parliament. Biography Da ...

, 1970, Polish glider pilot * Grzegorz Fryc, September 2014, New York *

Helena Gąsienica Daniel Helena Gąsienica Daniel (15 April 1934 – 23 November 2013) was a Polish cross-country skier. She enjoyed success from a young age, winning two gold medals at the Polish national championships by the age of 16: she went on to win a total ...

, Olympic cross-country skier *

Marcin Pawel Grzadka Marcin (Polish pronunciation: ) is a male given name or surname. Notable people with the name Marcin include: Given name * Marcin Dorociński (born 1973), Polish actor * Marcin Gortat (born 1984), Polish basketball player * Marcin Held (born 199 ...

, Harcmistrz, co-founder of YPCPA. & chairman of

Quo Vadis Leadership Conference Quo may refer to: * Quo (group), a 1990s hip hop group, or their 1994 album * ''Quo'' (Status Quo album), 1974 * ''Quo'' (magazine), a Spanish-language magazine * Akwa Ibom Airport, IATA airport code "QUO" See also * Quo vadis (disambiguation) ...

. – Canada – November 2013 * Rudolf Gundlach, Gundlach tank periscope inventor *

Robert Makłowicz Robert Witold Makłowicz (; born 12 August 1963) is a Polish food critic, journalist, historian and television personality, notable as a promoter of the Polish cuisine and slow food. Biography He was born in 1963 in Kraków to sailor father Wło ...

, 2004, journalist and historian, notable for promoting the Polish cuisine * Tomasz Moczerniuk, September 2014, New York"Awards at the Consulate General of Poland in New York". Retrieved 24 September 2014 from: http://www.prezydent.pl/aktualnosci/ordery-i-odznaczenia/art,1369,odznaczenia-w-konsulacie-generalnym-rp-w-nowym-jorku.html * Witold Pilecki, 1938, Soldier * Filip Slipaczek, May 2014, UK *

Adam Świerkocz Adam; el, Ἀδάμ, Adám; la, Adam is the name given in Genesis 1-5 to the first human. Beyond its use as the name of the first man, ''adam'' is also used in the Bible as a pronoun, individually as "a human" and in a collective sense as " ...

, 2005, Polish brigadier general *

Jerzy Troszczynski Jerzy Troszczynski (1932–1977) was a Polish photographer and actor who specialised in movie photography. His photographs are held in the National Library of Poland and the National Film Archive, Poland. He photographed numerous people invo ...

, photographer *

Krzysztof Wojciechowski Krzysztof () is a Polish language, Polish given name, equivalent to English ''Christopher''. The name became popular in the 15th century. Its diminutive forms include Krzyś, Krzysiek, and Krzysio; augmentative – Krzychu Individuals named Krzysz ...

, August 2013, Poland * Wlodzimierz Mieczyslaw Wojciechowski, 1973, Polish soldier and resistance fighter, London * Czesław s. Ignacego Przybylak, 1956, decorated Polish humanitarian activist, decorated worker of the state and Holocaust Survivor *

Jacek Banasiak Jacek Banasiak African Academy of Sciences, FAAS (born 15 March 1959) is a Polish mathematician who is a Professor and DST/NRF SARChI Chair in Mathematical Models and Methods in Biosciences and Bioengineering at the University of Pretoria, South A ...

, Professor and DST/NRF SARChI Chair in Mathematical Models and Methods in Biosciences and Bioengineering at the University of Pretoria 2014

Bronze Cross of Merit

References

{{Polish awards Awards established in 1923 1923 establishments in Poland *