About the Massachusetts Medal of Liberty

Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 33, Section 67A.

“There shall be a Medal of Liberty which shall be awarded to the next of kin of service men and women from the Commonwealth killed in action or who died in service while in a designated combat area in the line of duty or who died as a result of wounds received in action. The adjutant general and two field grade officers of the armed forces of the commonwealth detailed by the adjutant general shall constitute a commission to make recommendations to the commander-in-chief for the awarding of the Medal of Liberty. If a fallen service member from the Commonwealth who qualifies for the Medal of Liberty has no surviving spouse, children, siblings, or parents, such service member’s next closest surviving relative including, but not limited to, any nephews or nieces, shall be eligible for the Medal of Liberty.”

The Medal of Liberty is heart-shaped to symbolize the Purple Heart (a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving) and is attached to a 1-1/3 inch wide ribbon with a black border representing mourning. The center of the medal bears a Gold Star representing the Gold Star Mothers (mothers who lost sons or daughters in service of the United States Armed Forces). At the top center of the medal is the coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and on the rear side is the recipient’s branch of service and name with the words “In Honored Memory” engraved above and “Service and Sacrifice” below.