2004 Press Releases

Ambassador Weiser presents Legion of Merit medal to General Milan Cerovský

Bratislava, December 17, 2004

At a ceremony on Friday, December 17, at the United States Embassy in Bratislava, U.S. Ambassador Ronald Weiser presented the U.S. Legion of Merit medal, Degree of Commander, to General Milan Cerovský, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Slovakia. This is General Cerovský's second award; the first was awarded to him in Washington, DC in July 2000.

The citation for the award reads:

For exceptionally meritorious service as Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic from March 2002 to June 2004. General Cerovský provided outstanding leadership to his nation's military. As a member of the Alliance, he achieved remarkable progress in restructuring the Slovak Armed Forces to confront a growing threat of terrorism while contributing substantial capabilities to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He simultaneously fostered a durable and constructive relationship between the militaries of Slovakia and the United States. Under his direction, the Slovak Armed Forces continuously and vigorously supported Coalition activities in support of the Global War on Terrorism, including Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. Slovakia's successful deployments of engineer and de-mining units to Afghanistan and Iraq were vital measures to ensure the safety and security of Coalition Forces and for the peoples of Afghanistan and Iraq, directly contributing to their transition to democracy. General Cerovský's strategic vision for the revitalization of the Slovak military through a disciplined and realistic reform and modernization plan will, by the year 2010, transform the Slovak Armed Forces into a more modern, mobile force that will be capable of actively contributing to the defense of the NATO Alliance and other multinational operations. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Cerovský reflect great credit upon himself, the Slovak Armed Forces, and the Slovak Republic.

The award is signed by U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard B. Myers.

The Legion of Merit was created on July 20, 1942, as the first American decoration awarded to citizens of other nations. It was the first U.S. medal to have various degrees and is typically presented to individuals who "have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services." The reverse of the medal has the motto taken from the Great Seal of the United States "ANNUIT COEPTIS" ("He [God] Has Favored Our Undertakings") and the date "MDCCLXXXII" (1782), which is the date of America's first decoration, the Badge of Military Merit, now known as the Purple Heart. Chief of the Slovak General Staff General Milan Cerovský will receive the Legion of Merit in the degree of commander.