The Order of Merit (Spanish: Orden del Mérito) is a Chilean military order and was created in 1929. Succeeding the Medal of the Merit, it was created during the term of the President Germán Riesco through the Minister of War decree No. 1350 on September 4, 1906. This new national distinction was created to recognise the meritorious service provided by foreign military personnel to Chilean officials.
The first 200 military medals were minted in gold and silver, giving them the title of First and Second Class. They were minted at the Casa de la Moneda, having a tricolor ribbon. The order had three classes: First Class, Second Class, and Third Class; but later a new class was added (Grand Officer) that would be awarded to heads of state. In 1925, all the classes were renamed to:
- Collar of the Grand Cross (Spanish: Collar de la Gran Cruz)
- Grand Cross (Spanish: Gran Cruz)
- Grand Officer (Spanish: Gran Oficial)
- Commander (Spanish: Comendador)
- Officer (Spanish: Oficial)
- Knight (Spanish: Caballero)
The order is only awarded to foreigners.
Famous quotes containing the words order and/or merit:
“For I do not seek to understand in order to believe, but I believe in order to understand. For I believe this: unless I believe, I will not understand.”
—Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109)
“The silence that accepts merit as the most natural thing in the world is the highest applause.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)