The 18 May 1811 Medal ( es, Medalla 18 de Mayo 1811) is the second highest military decoration of the Uruguayan Army. The medal was established 16 December 1997 to complement the Medal of Military Merit, the highest decoration of the Uruguayan Army, and commemorates the

Battle of Las Piedras The Battle of Las Piedras was fought on May 18, 1811 as part of the Uruguayan struggle for independence. Background and development of events In 1810, the May Revolution had forced the Spanish to abandon Buenos Aires, but they held on to the ...

which took place on that date. The medal is presented in three classes and are awarded based on the rank of the recipient. The medal is awarded to Uruguayan and foreign military officers, as well as civilians, for outstanding achievement and meritorious service.

Appearance

The design of the medal depicts a four-armed cross of the sun's rays in silver. In the center of the cross is the Artigas' Cockade. The second class medal adds a golden laurel wreath around the

cockade A cockade is a knot of ribbons, or other circular- or oval-shaped symbol of distinctive colours which is usually worn on a hat or cap. Eighteenth century In the 18th and 19th centuries, coloured cockades were used in Europe to show the alleg ...

, while the first class medal includes the laurel wreath as well as three gold five-pointed start surmounting the cockade. The ribbon of the medal is 36 mm wide, with a broad central stripe of white, flanked by blue edges, bisected by red stripes. When worn as a

service ribbon A medal ribbon, service ribbon or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal. Each cou ...

, the grades of the medal are differentiated by a device. The ribbon for the third class is plain, the ribbon for the second class bears a gold colored laurel wreath device in the center, while the first class service ribbon bears a laurel wreath device surrounding three five-pointed gold stars.

Recipients

Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz Divisional general Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz (born 1 June 1952) is a Brazilian military officer who previously held the post of Force Commander of the United Nations' peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (known by its ...

* Guido Manini Ríos *

Simon Stuart (general) Lieutenant General Simon Andrew Stuart, is a senior officer of the Australian Army who has served as the Chief of Army since July 2022. He was commissioned into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in ...

References

External links

Pictures
Military decorations and medals of Uruguay Awards established in 1997 1997 establishments in Uruguay National Army (Uruguay) {{Uruguay-mil-stub