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National Geographic : 1919 Dec
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THE ROMANCE OF MILITARY INSIGNIA 48°.) © Underwood & Underwood MANY HEROIC WOMEN H\\VE BEEN DECORATED FOR VALOR IN THE WORLD WAR Having returned from France, these three Y. M. C. A . workers (note the triangular insignia on hat and sleeve) are receiving the Croix de Guerre from a French High Com missioner who brought the decorations from Paris. decorations are rarely worn. They are not to be flaunted promiscuously, but are reserved for times when it is desired to do special honor to the occasion. How ever, substitutes are provided for other times, to show that the wearer has re ceived recognition by his government. At ordinary times military men wear small sections of ribbon on the uniform for this purpose. These are simply short strips of the same design and width as the distinctive ribbon from which the medal itself is suspended, and they are known as service ribbons. The rule pre viously given, which prohibits the wear ing of a decoration of inferior origin, applies also to service ribbons, since the principle is the same. Lapel buttons are used with civilian clothes for the same purpose. They are made in a variety of forms-rosettes of silk ribbon, bow-knots of ribbon, metal lic buttons similar to the well-known G. A. R. device, buttons in enameled colors, etc., each decoration, medal, and badge having its own particular design. On evening clothes, both civilian and military, miniatures can be worn when the occasion is appropriate. These are replicas of the full-size medal and ribbon, but made on a scale of about one-half. They are therefore more dressy than a service ribbon, but not so ceremonial as the full-size medal, which furnishes the clue to the occasions when they should be worn. Service ribbons are never worn on mili tary evening clothes, as the wearing of such garments indicates a dress affair, even if it is not ceremonial, and service ribbons are out of place on dress clothes. It is thus seen that, although the medals themselves are rarely worn, the possessor of one can always show that fact, either in uniform or civilian clothes, by wearing the proper substitute. It should further
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