Cross of Naval Merit facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cross of Naval Merit
Template of the Cross Naval Merit Decorations
Presented by	Spain

The Cross of Naval Merit (Spanish: Cruces del Mérito Naval) is a special award from Spain. It's given to people who show great bravery or do excellent work. This award can be given during wartime or in times of peace.

It is mainly for members of the Spanish Naval Forces. But it can also be given to people in the Guardia Civil (a police force) or even regular citizens.

What Does the Cross Look Like?

The Cross of Naval Merit is shaped like a Greek cross. This means all four arms of the cross are the same length.

Colors of the Cross

The cross comes in different colors, which show why it was given:

• Red Decoration: This cross has bright red arms. It is given for bravery or great actions during a battle or war. It can also be for actions that cause serious danger.
• White Decoration: This cross has white arms. It is given for good work or service during peacetime. It can also be for actions that don't involve direct danger.
• Blue Decoration: This cross has white arms with narrow blue bars. It is given for helping other countries or for working with international forces.
• Yellow Decoration: This cross has white arms with narrow yellow bars. It is given for actions that involve great personal risk, but not necessarily in battle.

Special Features of the Cross

The top arm of the cross has a Spanish royal crown on it. Below the crown, there's a small space where the date the award was given can be written.

In the middle of the cross, there's a round shield. This shield shows the old coats of arms of different regions of Spain, like Castile and León. In the very center, there's a blue oval shield with the symbol of the House of Bourbon-Anjou. This is the royal family of Spain.

On the back of the cross, you'll see the letters "MM" on a red background. These letters stand for Mérito Militar, which means "Military Merit".

How the Cross is Worn

The cross is worn on a ribbon on the left side of a person's chest. If someone receives the award more than once, a small bar with the date of each award is added to the ribbon.

The Grand Cross

There's also a higher version of the award called the Grand Cross. It looks similar to the regular cross. However, the Grand Cross is worn on a wide sash that goes over the right shoulder.

People who receive the Grand Cross also get a special star. This star is gold and has eight points. The cross itself is placed on top of this star. On the star, between the arms of the cross, you can see alternating towers (for Castile) and lions (for León).

Images for kids

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  Grand Cross - Red Decoration

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  Ribbon for Grand Cross - Red Decoration

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  Grand Cross - Blue Decoration

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  Ribbon for Grand Cross - Blue Decoration

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  Grand Cross - Yellow Decoration

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  Ribbon for Grand Cross - Yellow Decoration

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  Grand Cross - White Decoration

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  Ribbon for Grand Cross - White Decoration

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  Cross - Red Decoration

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  Ribbon for Cross - Red Decoration

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  Cross - Blue Decoration

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  Ribbon for Cross - Blue Decoration

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  Cross - Yellow Decoration

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  Ribbon for Cross - Yellow Decoration

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  Cross - White Decoration

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  Ribbon for Cross - White Decoration

More About Spanish Military Awards

• Cross of Military Merit (Spain)
• Cross of Aeronautical Merit (Spain)

In Spanish: Cruces del Mérito Naval para niños