United States Legion of Merit (Commander)

United States Legion of Merit Medal. Commander Degree obverse is a wreath of green laurel joined at the bottom by a gold bow-knot (rosette), a domed five-pointed white star bordered crimson, points reversed with v-shaped extremities tipped with a gold ball. In the centre, a blue disk encircled by gold clouds, with 13 white stars arranged in the pattern that appears on the Great Seal of the United States. Between each point, within the wreath are crossed arrows pointing outwards. The words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" are embossed around the banner on the reverse and in the centre circle 'ANNUIT.COEPTIS.MDCCLXXXII'. The star is white enamel with red edges. A loose loop suspender is attached to a fixed wreath loop on the top arm with a pink purple watered neck ribbon that has thin white edges.

Commander: Equivalent of a U.S. military chief of staff or higher position, but not to a head of state. The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the seven uniformed services of the United States as well as to military and political figures of foreign governments.

The Legion of Merit (Commander degree) is one of only two United States military decorations to be issued as a neck order (the other being the Medal of Honor) and the only United States decoration which may be issued in award degrees (much like an order of chivalry or certain Orders of Merit).