The Virtus et Fraternitas Medal (Polish name: Medal Virtus et Fraternitas; Latin for "Courage and Brotherhood") is a Polish state decoration established on 9 November 2017.
It is awarded by the President of Poland on recommendation of the director of the Pilecki Institute as a token of commemoration and gratitude to those who provided aid and assistance to Polish citizens against Soviet and Nazi Germany war crimes as well as other crimes motivated by nationalism committed between 1917âÂÂ1990. It is also bestowed to honor individuals who voluntarily keep alive the memory of those who did not survive the war or the forced deportations, and found their graves abroad.
The medal has been conceptually compared to Yad Vashem's Righteous Among the Nations Awards.
The medal is round and silver. On the obsverse it is inscribed "VIRTUS ET FRATERNITATIS" (virtue and brotherhood). In the center of the medal carved stylized image of the White Eagle. The cross is 36 mm in diameter.
The Virtus et Fraternitas Medal is suspended from a purple ribbon, 36 mm wide. Symmetrically arranged along the edges of the ribbon are gold stripes each 4 mm wide, both 4 mm from the edge.
The medal was awarded for the first time on 19 June 2019. Among the awarded were:
The second awarding of medals took place on June 2, 2021 at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. They were given to the following persons:
The third award ceremony of medals took place on June 15, 2022 at the Belweder Palace in Warsaw. They were given to the following persons:
On 20 December 2022 were decorated:
On 6 July 2023 were decorated:
On 17 December 2024 were decorated: