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When was the U.S. Medal for Merit established?
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medal
Pierre and Marie Curie depicted on the obverse of a medal from the Unio Internationalis Contra Cancrum (International Union Against Cancer) commemorating the Curies' discovery of radium in 1898.
The U.S. Medal for Merit was established in 1942 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.1
This civilian decoration was created to honor individuals from the United States and its allies who performed exceptionally meritorious service or courageous acts in support of the war effort. It is important to note that military personnel are not eligible for this specific award.1