Medal for Long Service

The Medal for Long Service (Polish: Medal za Długoletnią Służbę) is a Polish decoration awarded in three classes (gold, silver and bronze) to members of the Polish Armed Forces, other uniformed services and to civilians who have honorably completed 30, 20 or 10 years of service.

History
The medal was established by the Law of January 8, 1938. After the outbreak of the Second World War the conferment was suspended and after the war the medal was eventually discontinued. In 1951 the Medal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the Fatherland was introduced instead for the members of the armed forces.

The Medal for Long Service was renewed by the Law of 14 June 2007, which amended the Act of 16 October 1992, concerning medals and decorations, along with the Military Cross and the Military, Air Force and Navy Cross of Merit. The change was implemented on October 9, 2007. In the order of precedence of Polish medals it ranks between the Medal for Sacrifice and Courage and the Medal for Long Marital Life.

Eligibility
The original medal of 1938 was awarded by the proper minister to any member of the armed forces, other uniformed services, as well as to civilian employees of the government or local government after 30 (gold medal), 20 (silver medal) or 10 years (bronze medal) of continuous or cumulated. As only the service after November 18, 1918 counted, only the silver and bronze medals were conferred; the first gold medals would be awarded as late as in 1948. Recipients were obliged to cover the cost of the medal.

Since 2007 the medal has been conferred by the President of Poland. It has replaced the Cross of Merit as a state-conferred award for long and honorable service. Unlike its pre-WWII counterpart the conferment is not automatic, but it is decided on an individual basis.

Design
The medal is circular, 35 mm of diameter, made of gilt, silvered or bronze patined metal (the original medals were made of silver or bronze). The obverse depicts a Polish crowned eagle surrounded by rye ears and circumscribed "ZA DŁUGOLETNIĄ SŁUŻBĘ." On the reverse there are the Roman numerals: "XXX", "XX" or "X", with a laurel spray below. The same numeral in gold, silver or bronze is attached to the ribbon bar.