Légion d'honneur

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A large silver Legion of Honor badge and presentation case awarded by the Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honor to General Colin L. Powell. The Legion of Honor badge (a) is an intricately constructed five-armed Maltese Asterisk, a pennant-ended cross of enamel over yellow gold. The cross arms have gold borders and the interstices between the arms are covered with white enamel. The center of the cross is a gold medallion with a white enamel border and bears the emblem of the Legion of Honor, which is a five-pointed star with a crown above it. The French Tricolor of two crossed red, white, and blue flags, in enamel, is also represented. The dark blue enameled ring of the medallion features the engraved words "HONNEUR ET PATIE" (Honor and Fatherland). A gold oak wreath is superimposed beneath the cross and enameled in verdant green.

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