Military awards and decorations might look like shiny pieces of metal and colorful ribbons, but there’s a lot of meaning and tradition wrapped up in each one. For anyone interested in military history or wanting to really get a feel for the value and process behind these symbols, having a clear idea of how awards and decorations work can make all the difference. I’m going to break down the basics, the process behind earning them, what they actually represent, and some cool facts to help make sense of this world of medals and ribbons.

