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 (which in Spanish is Cruces del Mérito Naval) is a special military award from Spain. It is given to people who show great bravery or do something very important. This award can be given during wartime or in times of peace.

It is awarded to members of the Spanish Naval Forces. People from the Guardia Civil (a type of police force) and even civilians can also receive this honor. The award was first created on August 3, 1866. It is still given out today.

What the Cross Looks Like

The Cross of Naval Merit is shaped like a Greek cross. This means all its arms are the same length. The color of the cross arms changes depending on why it was given.

Different Colors and Meanings

• Red Decoration: The arms are bright red. This is for acts of bravery or very important service during a war or conflict.
• White Decoration: The arms are white. This is for good service or achievements during peacetime.
• Blue Decoration: These crosses have white arms with narrow blue bars. They are given for actions that help the navy or other armed forces.
• Yellow Decoration: These crosses have white arms with narrow yellow bars. They are given for actions that involve a lot of risk.

Special Features of the Cross

At the top of the cross, there is a Spanish royal crown. Below the crown, there is a small space where the date the award was given can be written.

In the middle of the cross, there is a round shield. This shield shows the coats of arms of different historical regions of Spain, like Castile and León. In the very center of this shield, there is a small blue oval shield. This blue shield represents the House of Bourbon-Anjou, which is the royal family of Spain.

On the back of the cross, you will 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 of Naval Merit is worn on a ribbon. It is pinned on the left side of a person's chest. If someone receives the award more than once, a small bar with the date of the new award is added to the ribbon.

The Grand Cross

There is also a higher version of the award called the Grand Cross. It looks similar to the regular cross but is larger. 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. Between the arms of the cross on the star, you can see small towers and lions. These symbols represent Castile and León, just like on the central shield.

Grand Cross - Red	Grand Cross - Blue	Grand Cross - Yellow	Grand Cross - White
Cross - Red	Cross - Blue	Cross - Yellow	Cross - White

Other Spanish Military Awards

Spain has other similar awards for different branches of its armed forces:

• Cross of Military Merit (Spain) (for the Army)
• Cross of Aeronautical Merit (Spain) (for the Air Force)

See also

In Spanish: Cruces del Mérito Naval para niños