Coast Guard Medal Lapel Pin
This lapel pin represents the Coast Guard Medal, authorized by 14 U.S.C. § 2739 on August 4, 1949. It is awarded to any service member who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Coast Guard, distinguishes themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. To qualify, the act must be voluntary, performed in the face of great personal danger, and stand out distinctly above normal expectations of duty.
Though authorized in 1949, the medal was not actually bestowed until March 1958, when its first recipients, Seaman Earl H. Leyda and Petty Officer Albert Raymond Johnson, were honored for their efforts to reach three trapped construction workers in a tunnel beneath Lake Ontario following an explosion. The Coast Guard Medal ranks just above the Bronze Star Medal in precedence, and is equivalent to the Army's Soldier's Medal and the Air Force's Airman's Medal.
Sized for everyday wear, this pin lets veterans display this recognition on a suit lapel or jacket. It's built for accurate detail and lasting durability.