Riverside County Supervisor to Propose Certificates Recognizing Veterans’ Military Service
Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone today will introduce the Military Veterans Recognition Act, under which county residents awarded medals for bravery or other acts of distinction while serving in the U.S. military would be presented with certificates of praise from the county.
“The Military Veterans Recognition Act permits the county to join with federal and state military branches to recognize the valor or distinguished service of our veterans,” according to documents posted to the Board of Supervisors’ policy agenda. “The awards may be presented by a member of the board, the county Executive Office … and designees of the board or the county executive officer.”
According to Stone, former and active-duty soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who received any of the following would be eligible for an MVRA certificate of valor: the Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, Airman’s Medal, Air Medal, California National Guard Medal of Valor and California National Guard Military Cross.
The Navy Cross, a commendation for bravery awarded to Marines, Naval and Coast Guard personnel was originally omitted from the list inadvertently, Stone’s chief of staff, Verne Laurtizen said.
He said the language would be modified today to include the Navy Cross.
Stone said county residents would be eligible to receive an MVRA distinguished service certificate if they earned any of the following: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal-Order of California, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal and the California National Guard Medal of Merit.
According to Stone, certificates could be awarded posthumously if necessary.
He said formal presentations would take place in “suitable ceremonies and locations,” unless the recipient or his family would just as soon dispense with formalities.
Certificates would be framed and bear the signatures of each board member, as well as the county CEO, according to Stone.
