04-28-2004, 11:17 PM
Quote:As for a medal and a ribbon, there is really no difference, because when certain medals are awarded, you don't always wear the medal with certain types of uniforms.
Really dressy uniforms require the medals to be worn. Slightly dressy uniforms require ribbons. Each medal has a ribbon equivalent. Example, the Congressional Medal of Honor is this huge medal worn around the neck and is to be worn with the really dressy uniform. When wearing the not so dressy uniform, there is a ribbon that looks like the blue field of stars on the American flag that signifies the MOH.
I don't think the CMH is even worn around the neck except at the time of presentation. For my sources, I shall cite the movies Forrest Gump and Heartbreak Ridge. In Forrest Gump, Forrest only wears his medal around his neck because he had just received it, and then gives it to Jenny. In Heartbreak Ridge, Gunney Tom Highway was awarded the medal a decade before, and when in full military dress, his medal is a small medal pinned to his uniform.
In lieu of the medals, whether hung around the neck or pinned to the uniform, ribbons are worn. I was at a store in Ft. Bragg, where the military people go and get new uniforms and such, and you can buy as many ribbons as you want, assuming that you can provide a list of all the awards you have received. So, if he threw ribbons, it's no big deal, I'm sure he had a bunch ready to go on his other uniforms, and could always replace them. Whoop dee doo.