Medals and Awards for Color Guard Participation

The MS SAR will use the Events System to award Color Guard Medals.
Listed below are the various Color Guard medals and their requirements. Included is a link to the latest Handbook for Medals and Awards, along with what page the medal information is on.

Bronze NSSAR Color Guard Medal

Presented by: National Society                          
Qualifications: Events System.
                                  Must participate in at least 50% of the  scheduled State and/or Chapter events in eachof three (3) years (does not have to be consecutive).

NSSAR Handbook Volume V (1 JAN 2024), p 46

Silver NSSAR Color Guard Medal

Presented by: State Society President or State CG Commander

                                District VPG or District CG Commander
Approved by: State, District, or National CG Commander
Summary: Three (3) years service at District or National level.
                        May be retroactive.
                        Awarded only once.
                        Application required.
                        Must have received the Bronze Color Guard Medal
Qualifications: Events System.
                                 Must participate in at least three (3) District and/or National events in each of three (3) years. (does not have to be consecutive).

NSSAR Handbook Volume V (1 Jan 2024), p 31

Gold NSSAR Color Guard Medal

Presented by: National Society 
Approved by: National Color Guard Committee
Summary: National service. (3 years) 
                       Awarded only once.
                      Must have received the Bronze Color Guard Medal
                      Must have received the silver Color Guard Medal
Qualifications: May be presented for the following reasons
            1. Elected SAR Color Guardsman of the Year
            2. Serve as Vice Commander (1 year) and National Commander (2 years) OR National Commander (3 years)

NSSAR Handbook Volume V (1 Jan 2024), p 22

The Von Steuben Medal for Sustained Achievement in the NSSAR Color Guard

Presented by: : District Vice President General, State President, or by the District or State Color Guard Commander (as appropriate). Under special circumstances, the President General or the National Color Guard Commander may present this award.
Approved by: State or District, AND National CG Commander
Summary: Awarded for sustained service to the Society as a Color Guardsman at the National or District Levels
                        Awarded only once.
                        Must have received the Bronze Color Guard Medal
                        Must have received the silver Color Guard Medal
Qualifications: 1. Must serve at least 5 years after the date of application for Silver Color Guard medal was approved 
                             2. must participate in at least twenty-five (25) National and/or District Color Guard events.

NOTE 1:  The 5 years do not need to be continuous and may take longer than 5 years. However, The Color Guardsman may not be awarded the National Von Steuben Medal earlier than five years after the date his application for the Silver Color Guard Medal was approved.

NOTE 2: The same events that count toward earning the Silver Color Guard Medal shall also count toward earning the National Von Steuben Medal.

NSSAR Handbook Volume V (1 Jan 2025), p 25