A Bronze Star Medal can be bestowed upon any member of the Armed Forces of the U.S. that has distinguished themselves by performing acts of achievement that deserve special merit or acts of a heroic nature when the service that does not involve aerial flight. A Bronze Star Medal is given for acts performed in connection with military operations against an enemy who is armed; or while the service-member is acting as part of operations of the military that involve conflict with any opposing enemy force when the U.S. is not an antagonistic party. Each Bronze Star Medal has been awarded for acts performed since December 6, 1941.

The Bronze Star Medal became recognized on Feb 4, 1944, by Executive Order 9419 and was amended in Feb 2003. The medal may be given by the U.S. homeland security secretary, by military officers or any other officers that a secretary who is concerned with the service-member may designate. Any member who has served the country in any way with or in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, or Air Force of the U.S. may receive this award if the appropriate secretary deems that such person has earned the award.

This medal’s design is simple, yet beautiful. The ribbon that holds each Bronze Star Medal is decorated with seven stripes. Four of the stripes are white, two are scarlet red, and the stripe in the middle is colored Ultramarine blue. This medal is made of bronze, shaped like a star and the main star is 1.5 inches wide. A smaller star is overlaid in the center of the larger star and there are words inscribed in a circular pattern on the backside of the star. That state the medal’s purpose. Space is also available for the recipient’s name to be engraved.