Independence Medal (Lithuania)

Independence Medal
Type	State decoration
Awarded for	Restoration of Lithuania's independence
Country	Lithuania
Established	1928

In Lithuania, the Independence Medal (Lithuanian: Nepriklausomybės medalis) is a state medal of Lithuania, awarded for the contributions in the restoration of the independence of the state. The medal had two issues in 1928 and 2000. Both times it was issued to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Lithuania's independence.[1]

1928 issue

Freedom Monument, by Zikaras, seen on the obverse of the medal

The medal was issued to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the republic to persons "for [their] contributions to the re-establishment and strengthening of the independence of Lithuania in 1919–1928".[2]

It was designed by sculptor Juozas Zikaras.[2] The obverse depicts Freedom Monument which was unveiled in 1928 in Kaunas and also designed by Zikaras. It depicts a winged female figure raising a flag in one hand and holding broken chains in another. The medals were manufactured by Huguenin Frères from Le Locle, Switzerland.[3] It is made from bronze and measures 36 millimetres (1.4 in) in diameter. The reverse has an inscription in all uppercase Per amžius / budėję-laisvę / laimėjom / per aukas ir / pasišventimą / 1918-1928 (Through the ages on guard, we have won freedom through sacrifices and dedication 1918–1928). The ribbon has three vertical black-yellow-black stripes.[3]

The awardee categories included:[2]

• Lithuanian book smugglers, who smuggled Lithuanian language books during the Lithuanian press ban (1864–1904)
• participants in the Lithuanian Wars of Independence (1918–1920)
• participants in the Klaipėda Revolt (1923)
• riflemen and persons who had joined the public service in the early days of independence (1918–1919)
• Knights of the Cross of Vytis.

During 1928–1940, more than 44,000 Lithuanian citizens and foreign nationals were awarded the medal.[2]

2000 issue

The medal was awarded to persons "for distinction in the cause of restoration and consolidation of the Independent State of Lithuania during the period from 1990 to 2000".[2] The medal is identical to the interwar medal except the dates "1918–1928" on the reverse were replaced with "1990–2000".[1]

The medal was reestablished on July 1, 2000[1] and awarded to 384 people.[4] The award ceremony was held on July 6, 2000, the Statehood Day of Lithuania.[2] It has not been awarded since.[5]

The awardee categories included:[2][1]

• participants of armed and unarmed resistance
• volunteer militia (e.g. members of the Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces)
• publishers of the Chronicle of the Lithuanian Catholic Church
• founders of the Committee for Protection of the Rights of Believers [lt]
• members of the Lithuanian Helsinki Group
• members of the national rebirth movement "Sąjūdis"
• members of the Reconstituent Seimas
• signatories of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania

References

1. Kuodytė, Rūta. "Lietuvos nepriklausomybės medalis". Atkurtos nepriklausomos Lietuvos valstybės apdovanojimai (in Lithuanian). National Museum of Lithuania. Archived from the original on July 14, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
2. "Independence Medal". Administration of the Office of the President. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
3. Zarankaitė-Margienė, Toma. "Medalis, skirtas Lietuvos nepriklausomybės 10 metų jubiliejui". Savaitės eksponatas (in Lithuanian). National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
4. Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidentas Valdas Adamkus (July 1, 2000). "Dėl apdovanojimo Lietuvos nepriklausomybės medaliu" (in Lithuanian). Lietuvos Respublikos Seimo interneto portalo informacinė sistema. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
5. "Apdovanotų asmenų duomenų bazė" (in Lithuanian). Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania. Retrieved February 4, 2021.