Cross of Mourning of the Order of the Cross of Liberty
Description and requirements
The Mourning Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty is given as a memorial gift to the closest relative of a fallen soldier: spouse, eldest child, mother or father. The mourning cross is worn by the female relatives of the fallen soldier, such as the widow, eldest daughter or mother, in that order. Males or more distant female relatives do not wear it. The mourning cross is worn on the left side and is attached separately above any other decorations, slightly above the heart.
The Cross of Mourning and other decorations are worn in formal dress (tailored dress or dark dress, and women’s equivalent formal dress) at official and private functions, when the invitation states either “Formal dress and decorations” or “Dark dress and decorations”. Decorations are not worn in everyday dress (however, decorations worn on the chest may be worn in everyday dress at war veterans’ celebrations).
Occasions where mourning crosses/badges are used include, for example, graduation ceremonies, anniversaries of parishes and large non-governmental organisations, major national holidays, Independence Day celebrations, Remembrance Day, Flag Day celebrations of the Defence Forces, annual celebrations of units, reserve officers and non-commissioned officers’ associations, visits to an organisation, and celebrations of one’s own or one’s family members, when it is considered that a mourning cross is appropriate for the nature of the celebration.
At events organised by the Union, the mourning cross may be used, for example, at events commemorating the Fallen, national Spiritual Days and the Union’s anniversary celebrations. The mourning cross is not used at the actual annual meetings or at summer celebrations.
The mourning cross may only be worn on the coat jacket at the wreath-laying ceremony. Using the badge of honour always requires a certain solemnity of the occasion, and wearing the mourning cross, in particular, involves consideration and judgment by its very nature.
The mourning cross loses its value if it is used at events whose solemnity does not correspond to the nature of the mourner. The Union’s merit badges are not used with the Union’s Merit Badge. The silver merit badge is not used with the Union’s gold merit badge. A new cross can replace a lost mourning cross by contacting the General Staff Medal Office. The mourning cross and other medals can be restored at the Medal Service of the War Veterans’ Association (address: Kasarminkatu 34 A, 00130 Helsinki).
My cross
The first Finnish award that I received was from Estonia. This is a Continuation War award.
