WAn order is a visible honour awarded by a sovereign state, monarch, dynastic royal house or organisation to a person, typically in recognition of individual merit, that often comes with distinctive insignia such as collars, medals, badges, and sashes worn by recipients.
WMedal inflation is a term used by the media particularly in the United States to describe the increase in the number of medals awarded to the armed forces in recent times and a perceived devaluing of medals because of this. It has been discussed since at least 1979 when a book was published relating to the Vietnam War. The War on Terror and particularly the 2003 Invasion of Iraq saw a resurgence in coverage, as there was a rapid increase in the number of medals awarded by the American forces. There was, however, a significant reduction in the volume of medals as the war entered the counter-insurgency phase.
WOrder of Leon is an Order of the Republic of Abkhazia.
WOrders, decorations and medals of South Ossetia is a system of awards of the Republic of South Ossetia established in 2007. Decorations are divided into two grades: orders and medals. There are three orders and two medals.
WPhaleristics, from the Greek mythological hero Phalerus via the Latin phalera ('heroics'), sometimes spelled faleristics, is an auxiliary science of history and numismatics which studies orders, fraternities, and award items, such as medals, ribbons, and other decorations.
WThe Tallinn Museum of Orders of Knighthood is a private museum of history and culture in Tallinn, Estonia. The main focus of the museum is the history of orders of knighthood and merit from all over the world. The museum is located in a historical medieval building at Kuninga 3 in Tallinn Old Town, and the permanent exhibition consists of close to a thousand original costumes, collars, stars, badges and other items related to orders of knighthood with the oldest exhibits dating to the beginning of the 18th century.
WThe Uatsamonga Order is a state award of South Ossetia. It was established in 2007. As of February 2015, it has no legislative support. In 2010, the Union of Knights of the Order was formed. The order is named after the mythological artifact Uatsamonga, mentioned in the Ossetian Nart epic.