The Silver Star of the U.S. Army

When you do very well in a certain subject in school, they give you an 'A'. In the same token, the US Army gives out decorations of merit to individuals in the armed forces who have made significant contributions to the country. Usually, these awards come in the form of medals, stars or crosses. Today, we shall pay special attention to the Silver Star.

Among the military decorations in the United States Armed Forces, the Silver Star is the third highest award. Coincidentally, the Silver Star is also the third highest award conferred for valor, which can be defined as courage against the enemy. In this capacity, the Silver Star is also awarded to civilians. To earn the Silver Star, a person must display exceptional valor in fighting against an enemy of the US or in service to the US Armed Forces. In comparison to the Medal of Honor or the Service Cross, the Silver Star is considered a lesser award but it must be remembered that it's only given for some form of outstanding gallantry.

Before the Silver Star, there was a similar award known as the Citation Star. In 1932, the Silver Star officially replaced the Citation Star. As World War II raged on, Congress authorized the Silver Star so that it could be awarded to civilians in 1942. At this time, the war wasn't just fought by the U.S. military. A great number of civilians volunteered to serve the country in various capacities. It was logical that they were honored for their brave service in those times. Today, the Silver Star is still being awarded. In the history of the US, it's estimated that more than 100,000 Silver Stars have been given out.

Contrary to its names, the Silver Star is actually gold in color. Nobody knows why it's not called the Gold Star or the Golden Star. Anyway, it measures one and half inches in circumscribing diameter. A 5-pointed star, it's a very sharp decoration. In the center of the star, we see a wreath of laurel encircling a smaller star which is radiating some rays. On the reverse, the words read "FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION." The top of the Silver Star is attached to a loop with a ribbon of red, white, and blue.

While the Silver Star looks magnificent, we doubt it actually contains any real silver. If you have some silver items and you want to receive instant cash for silver, you may contact a trusted silver buyer. This way, you will get the best rates for silver.