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 miniature Legion of Honor ribbon badge awarded by the Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honor to General Colin L. Powell. This ribbon badge is a replica of the larger badge and includes indication of the rank given to General Powell, Commandeur, as seen by the round red wheel over the silver square. The badge 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).

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