Medals of the Swedish Blue Star Society
The First World War brought great destruction and sacrifice. Amid reports of many dead and wounded, the situation with army horses went unnoticed by most people. But there were several people who were struck by the war scenes in which the wounded horses were dying and no one tried to alleviate their torment. On Christmas Eve 1914, the International Federation of War Animal Aid Associations "L'Etoile Rouge" (Red Star), was founded. In Sweden, the idea was taken up by the Swedish Association for the Protection of Animals, and in 1917 the "Swedish Red Star Society" (Svenska Röda Stjärnan) was founded. The purpose of the Society was to become to animals what the Red Cross Society was to humans.
The Society had to organize medical care for animals that were injured during the war. The members of the Society were women, trained as veterinarians and nurses. The Society was purchased medical instruments, bandages and medicines. When the Winter War broke out in Finland in 1939, the Society decided to send a volunteer horse care mission, as horses were still actively used to transport cannons, machine guns, ammunition, cooking carts, and horse riding. In Finland, the "red star" symbol was associated with the Red Army, so on 1 July 1941, the name of the Society was changed to the "Swedish Blue Star Society" (Svenska Blå Stjärnan).
Currently, the mission of the Society is to take care of animals during crises, natural disasters, outbreaks of infection and other events that may have a negative impact on the animal world.
Medal of Merit of the Swedish Red Star Society (Svenska Röda Stjärnans förtjänstmedalj) with the bar "FINLANDSAMBULANSEN 1940".
The medal was awarded to members of the Society who volunteered on a mission to Finland in 1940.
Badge of Merit of the Swedish Blue Star Society (Svenska Blå Stjärnans Förtjänsttecknet).
The medal is awarded to members of the Society who have worked with dignity for the good of Society for at least seven years.
Medal of Merit of the Swedish Blue Star Society (Svenska Blå Stjärnans Förtjänstmedalj).
The medal is awarded in two classes: gold and silver. The Silver Medal is awarded to members of the Society who have worked with dignity for the good of Society for at least ten years. The Gold medal is awarded to members of the Society who have worked with dignity for the good of Society for at least fifteen years.
Badge of Merit of the Swedish Blue Star Society with a star (Svenska Blå Stjärnans Förtjänsttecknet med stjärna).
The medal is awarded to members of the Society who have worked with dignity for the good of Society for at least twenty years. The medal is similar to the Badge of Merit of the Swedish Blue Star Society, but to the ribbon attached a five-pointed star with blue enamel.
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