3rd degree Medal for Long Service

The Medal for Long Service is a Polish civilian decoration of the Second Republic (1918-1939) awarded for exemplary, exceptionally conscientious performance of duties resulting from professional work in the service of the State. It was established by the Act of 8 January 1938, with the right to award it being vested in the relevant ministers or other supreme organs of state power. The graphic design was developed by Professor Stanisław Ostoja-Chrostowski (1897-1947) – an artist, graphic designer and one of the most eminent wood engravers of the inter-war period. The Long Service Medal was divided into three types: gold, silver and bronze. The bronze medal was intended for those with ten years of national service (counting from 1918), the silver medal for twenty years and the gold medal for thirty years. The first distribution of bronze medals took place simultaneously across the country, on 5 May 1938. Silver medals were not awarded until 1939. The loss of Poland's independence before the end of the 30-year period made it impossible to award the gold medal. After the end of the Second World War, the medal was no longer awarded. Its reinstatement in the Polish system of state decorations took place in 2007. Anna Lew-Machniak