Apply for a New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, Conspicuous Service Star, or Medal for Merit

Thank you for your military service.  Eligibility requirements and links to applications for each NYS military medal are listed below. For more information, or to receive a hard copy of an application, please contact Lindsay Bednarczyk in my district office at 315-428-7632.

All completed applications can be sent to my district office, and I will expedite them. 
The address is as follows:

800 State Office Building
333 E. Washington Street
Syracuse, NY 13202

 

Conspicuous Service Cross Eligibility Criteria:

            1. A current New York State Citizen OR

            2. A New York State citizen while serving on federal active duty AND

 3. A current or former full-time military person serving in the Armed Forces of the United States or allied forces for purposes other than training since 1917; Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) excepted AND

 4. Currently serving under honorable conditions or honorably discharged from active duty.

An individual must be the recipient of at least one of the following:

            1. Medal of Honor

            2. Distinguished Service Cross

            3. Navy Cross

            4. Air Force Cross

            5. Defense Distinguished Service Medal

            6. Distinguished Service Medal (Army)

            7. Distinguished Service Medal (Navy-Marine Corps)

            8. Distinguished Service Medal (Air Force)

            9. Distinguished Service Medal (Coast Guard)

            10. Silver Star

            11. Defense Superior Service Medal

            12. Legion of Merit

            13. Distinguished Flying Cross

            14. Soldier’s Medal

            15. Navy and Marine Corps Medal

            16. Airmen’s Medal

            17. Coast Guard Medal

            18. Bronze Star Medal

            19. Purple Heart

            20. Defense Meritorious Service Medal

            21. Meritorious Service Medal

            22. Air Medal

OR: As prescribed by NYS Military Law, were a prisoner of war, served at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, directly participated in the D-Day Invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, or have been declared by the Department of Defense as killed or missing in action.

NOTE: Acceptable documentation for veterans who served at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 194, is a certified copy of the application form for the Pearl harbor Commemorative Medal or the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Inc. membership card.

STANDARD: If you have previously been awarded the NYS Medal for Merit, you are not authorized to receive the NYS Conspicuous Service Cross. All above qualifying awards must have been earned while serving on federal active duty in the Armed Forced of the United States.

Please Click Here to access an application for the Conspicuous Service Cross.

Conspicuous Service Star/Medal For Merit Eligibility Criteria:

The general criteria for both awards require an individual to be:

            1. A current New York State Citizen OR

            2. A New York State citizen while serving on federal active duty AND

 3. A current or former full-time military person serving in the Armed Forces of the United States or allied forces for purposes other than training since 1917; Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) excepted AND

 4. Currently serving under honorable conditions or honorably discharged from active duty.

 

NYS Medal for Merit

Recipient of at least one of the following:

1. Joint Service Commendation Medal

2. Army Commendation Medal

3. Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal

4. Air Force Commendation Medal

5. Coast Guard Commendation Medal

6. Aerial Achievement Medal

7. Joint Service Achievement Medal

8. Army Achievement Medal

9. Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal

10. Air Force Achievement Medal

11. Coast Guard Achievement Medal

12. Gold Livesaving Medal

13. Silver Livesaving Medal

14. American Campaign Medal

15. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

16. European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal

17. Korean Service Medal

18. Vietnam Service Medal

19. Southwest Asia Service Medal

20. Combat Action Ribbon

21. Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

22. Armed Forces Service Medal

23. Combat Infantryman Badge

24. Combat Medical Badge

25. Navy Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia

26. Mariner’s Medal (Merchant Marine- WWII)

27. Merchant Marine Combat Bar (WWII)

28. Kosovo Campaign Medal

29. Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

30. Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal

31. Navy Expeditionary Medal

32. Iraq Campaign Medal

33. Afghanistan Campaign Medal

34. Combat Action Badge

35. Army of Occupation Medal

36. Navy Occupation Service Medal

37. Korean Defense Service Medal

 

NYS Conspicuous Service Star

Recipient of at least one of the following:

1. Distinguished Unit Citation/Presidential Unit Citation (Army/Navy/Air Force)

2. Joint Meritorious Unit Award

3. Valorous Unit Award

4. Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army)

5. Navy Unit Commendation

6. Meritorious Unit Commendation (Navy-Marine Corps)

7. Coast Guard Unit Commendation

8. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

9. Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

10. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation

11. Air Force Gallant Unit Citation

12. Air Force Meritorious Unit Award

NOTE: All awards listed above with the exception of the Presidential Unit Citation and Valorous Unit Award require additional evidence that award was made for combat participation.

13. French Fourragere

14. French Croix de Guerre (WWI or WWII)

15. French Medal Militaire

16. Belgian Fourragere

17. Belgian Croix de Guerre

18. Luxembourg Croix de Guerre

19. Netherlands Orange Lanyard

20. Military Order of William (Netherlands)

21. Croce al Merito di Guerra (Italy)

22. Orden de Torre E Espada (Portugal)

23. Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation (awarded prior to 1945)

24. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

25. Chyssoun Aristion Andrias (Greece)

26. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation

NOTE: Specifically excluded are the Army Superior Unit Award, Navy “E” Award Ribbon , and the United States Merchant Marine Gallant Ship Citation Ribbon.

STANDARD:  If you have previously been awarded or now qualify for the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, you are not authorized to receive the New York State Medal for Merit.

NOTE: All above qualifying awards must have been earned while serving on federal active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States.

Please Click Here to access an application for the Conspicuous Service Star/Medal For Merit.