Difference between revisions of "Order of Merit"

Latest revision as of 04:06, 21 August 2022

The Order of Merit is a former Order of Chivalry of Westarctica. Established as one of the four original Orders of Westarctica, it was intended to recognize substantial accomplishments in areas such as the arts and sciences. Knighthoods in the order had not been issued since 2005, and its function was replaced by the honors system instituted as part of the Westarctica Civilian Corps.

Drape medal for the military version of the Order of Merit

It was abolished by Royal Decree on 11 March 2021.

Creation of the order

The order was created on 2 April 2005 as decreed in the Royal Decree Revising the Orders of Westarctica. It was the last order listed, placing the last in precedence. Grand Duke Travis originally envisioned the order as analogous to Napoleon's Legion of Merit, an egalitarian knighthood that could be awarded to virtually anyone deemed worthy enough to receive it. The instructions for the order were:

This Order is designed to recognize exceptional artistic, scientific, or civic achievement. There is one class, Knight. The regalia for this Order is a medal bearing the words “Medal of Merit” with a star in the center hung from a green ribbon.

Regalia

The order had two different pieces of regalia:

Drape medal - for military recipients
Neck medal - for civilian recipients

Knights

Collage of the Numa Numa Video featuring Gary Brolsma

The first honor in the Order of Merit was awarded to American viral video star Gary Brolsma, commonly known as the "Numa Numa Guy". At the time it was awarded, the order was known as the "Order of the Penguin," but the name was revised only two weeks after his award letter was dispatched. His citation contained the following note:

Gary, your video is a wonderfully funny piece of work that never fails to bring a smile to my face. All of my coworkers insist that I play the video for them when I arrive at work in the morning, and several of us actually managed to play your video in sync on our computers, resulting in a room full of “Numa Numa” dancers. I assure you Gary, that none of us are laughing at you, we are wholeheartedly laughing with you!

The second honor was bestowed upon the Duke of Ravencroft (while he was still a Marquis) in recognition of his service and dedication to Westarctica.

Current Status

The Order was abolished on 11 March 2021 as its function was replaced by the Honored Citizen Awards. Existing knights of the Order are still authorized to wear their regalia and bear the honorifics associated with the Order.

List of Knights

Name	Year of appointment	Notes
Grand Duke Travis	2005	Sovereign of the Order
Gary Brolsma	2005	Civilian
Philip Karns	2005	Civilian

External link

Gary Brolsma official website

Orders of Westarctica
Active	Westarctica	Orca • Snowflake • Desert Heart • Westarctica • Polar Cross • Sword • Legion of Peace
Active	Kolios	Kolios
Defunct	Westarctica	The Cross • Merit
	Calsahara	Thespians • Masters of the Universe
	Kolios	Rose Throne • Crucifix
Awards of Westarctica
Royal Guards	Westarctica Cross • Defense Commendation • Distinguished Service • Defense Security • Antarctic Service • Construction Service • Foreign Service • C2 Training • Good Conduct
Civilian Corps	Activity Ribbons	Balleny Islands Expeditionary • Calsahara Expeditionary • Achievement • Commendation • Service • Community Outreach • Global Campaign Service • Government Service • Iceberg Award • Long Service • Nobles • Recruiting • Westarctica Expeditionary
Civilian Corps	Honored Westarctican	Artist • Citizen • Conservationist • Diplomat • Innovator • Servant • Volunteer
Kolios	Friendship Cross • Quartercentennial medal

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:ORDER OF MERIT.jpg|thumb|Drape medal for the military version of the Order of Merit]]
-The '''Order of Merit''' is one of four original [[Orders of Westarctica|Orders of Chivalry]] of [[Westarctica]]. It is intended to recognize substantial accomplishments in areas such as the arts and sciences. Knighthoods in the order have not been issued since 2005, and its function has been replaced by the honors system instituted as part of the [[Westarctica Civilian Corps]].
+The '''Order of Merit''' is a former [[Orders of Westarctica|Order of Chivalry]] of [[Westarctica]]. Established as one of the four original Orders of Westarctica, it was intended to recognize substantial accomplishments in areas such as the arts and sciences. Knighthoods in the order had not been issued since 2005, and its function was replaced by the honors system instituted as part of the [[Westarctica Civilian Corps]].
+It was abolished by [[Royal Decrees|Royal Decree]] on 11 March 2021.
 ==Creation of the order==
@@ Line 23: / Line 25: @@
 </blockquote>
-The second honor was bestowed up the [[Duke of Ravencroft]] while he was still a Marquis in recognition of his service and dedication to [[Westarctica]].
+The second honor was bestowed upon the [[Duke of Ravencroft]] (while he was still a Marquis) in recognition of his service and dedication to [[Westarctica]].
+==Current Status==
+The Order was abolished on 11 March 2021 as its function was replaced by the [[Honored Citizen Awards]]. Existing knights of the Order are still authorized to wear their regalia and bear the honorifics associated with the Order.
 ===List of Knights===
@@ Line 40: / Line 45: @@
 * [http://www.garybrolsma.com/numa-numa-dance/ Gary Brolsma official website]
+{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto;text-align:center;"
+!style="background:#e3f1fa;text-align:center;"; colspan="3"|[[Orders of Westarctica]]''
+|-
+|rowspan="2" style="background:#e3f1fa";text-align:center|'''Active'''
+|<small>[[Westarctica]]</small>
+|style=text-align:left|<small>[[File:Orca-Ribbon.png|x10px]] [[Order of the Orca|Orca]] • [[File:Order-Snowflake-Ribbon.png|x10px]] [[Order of the Snowflake|Snowflake]] • [[File:Order-Desert-Ribbon.png|x10px]] [[Order of the Desert Heart|Desert Heart]] • [[File:Order-Westarctica-Ribbon.png|x10px]] [[Noble Order of Westarctica|Westarctica]] • [[File:Silver ribbon.jpg|x10px]] [[Order of the Polar Cross|Polar Cross]] • [[File:Order-Sword-Ribbon.png|x10px]] [[Noble Order of the Sword|Sword]] • [[File:Order-Peace-Ribbon.png|x10px]] [[Legion of Peace]]</small>
+|-
+|<small>[[Protectorate of Kolios|Kolios]]</small>
+|style=text-align:left|<small>[[File:Order-Merit-Ribbon.png|x10px]] [[Most Honorable Order of Kolios|Kolios]]</small>
+|-
+|rowspan="3" style="background:#e3f1fa";text-align:center|'''Defunct'''
+|<small>[[Westarctica]]</small>
+|style=text-align:left|<small>[[File:Order-Cross-Ribbon.png|x10px]] [[Holy Order of The Cross|The Cross]] • [[File:Order-Merit-Ribbon.png|x10px]] [[Order of Merit|Merit]]</small>
+|-
+|<small>[[Calsahara]]</small>
+|style=text-align:left|<small>[[File:Order-Thespians-Ribbon.png|x10px]] [[Illustrious Order of Thespians|Thespians]] • [[File:Order-Masters-Ribbon.png|x10px]] [[Masters of the Universe]]</small>
+|-
+|<small>[[Protectorate of Kolios|Kolios]]</small>
+|style=text-align:left|<small>[[File:BWRibbon.jpg|x10px]] [[Order of the Rose Throne|Rose Throne]] • [[File:Blue ribbs.png|x10px]] [[Sanctified Order of the Crucifix|Crucifix]]</small>
+|-
+!style="background:#e3f1fa;text-align:center;"; colspan="3"|Awards of Westarctica
+|-
+|style="background:#e3f1fa";text-align:center|'''[[Westarctican Royal Guards|Royal Guards]]'''
+|colspan="2" style=text-align:left|<small>[[File:Westarctica Cross.png|x10px]] Westarctica Cross • [[File:Defense Commendation.png|x10px]] Defense Commendation  • [[File:Distinguished Service.png|x10px]] Distinguished Service • [[File:Defense Security.png|x10px]] Defense Security • [[File:Antarctic Service.png|x10px]] Antarctic Service • [[File:Construction Service.png|x10px]] Construction Service • [[File:Foreign Service.png|x10px]] Foreign Service • [[File:C2 Training.png|x10px]] C2 Training • [[File:Good Conduct.png|x10px]] Good Conduct</small>
+|-
+|rowspan="2" style="background:#e3f1fa";text-align:center|'''[[Civilian Corps]]'''
+|<small>Activity Ribbons</small>
+|style=text-align:left|<small>[[File:BallenyExpeditionRibbon.jpg|x10px]] Balleny Islands Expeditionary • [[File:Civ-Cor-Calsahara.png|x10px]] Calsahara Expeditionary • [[File:Civ-Cor-Achievement.png|x10px]] Achievement • [[File:Civ-Cor-Achievement.png|x10px]] Commendation • [[File:Civ-Cor-Service.png|x10px]] Service • [[File:Civ-Cor-Human.png|x10px]] Community Outreach • [[File:Civ-Cor-Global.png|x10px]] Global Campaign Service • [[File:GovernmentServiceRibbon.png|x10px]] Government Service • [[File:Civ-Cor-Ice.png|x10px]] Iceberg Award • [[File:Civ-Cor-Long.png|x10px]] Long Service • [[File:Civ-Cor-Nobility.png|x10px]] Nobles • [[File:Civ-Cor-Recruit.png|x10px]] Recruiting • [[File:Civ-cor-westarctica.png|x10px]] Westarctica Expeditionary</small>
+|-
+|<small>[[Honored Westarctican Awards|Honored Westarctican]]</small>
+|style=text-align:left|<small>[[File:Civ-Cor-Artist.png|x10px]] Artist • [[File:Civ-Cor-HonCitizen.png|x10px]] Citizen • [[File:HonoredConservationistRibbon.png|x10px]] Conservationist • [[File:Civ-cor-hondiplomat.png|x10px]] Diplomat • [[File:Civ-Cor-HonInno.png|x10px]] Innovator • [[File:Civ-Cor-HonService.png|x10px]] Servant • [[File:Civ-Cor-HonVol.png|x10px]] Volunteer</small>
+|-
+|style="background:#e3f1fa";text-align:center|'''[[Protectorate of Kolios|Kolios]]'''
+|colspan="2" style=text-align:left|<small>[[File:Friendship Cross.jpg|x10px]] [[Friendship Cross of Kolios|Friendship Cross]] • [[File:Ribbon-W-GR.png|x10px]] [[Koliosian Quartercentennial medal|Quartercentennial medal]]</small>
+|}
 [[Category:Orders of Westarctica]]