Cross of Merit (Poland)

Cross of Merit Krzyż Zasługi
Current version of Gold Cross of Merit
Awarded by the President of Poland
Country	Poland
Type	Medal awarded in three grades: Golden, Silver, and Bronze
Awarded for	Exemplary public service or humanitarian work that goes above and beyond the call of duty
Status	Currently awarded
Clasps	denotes subsequent award
Statistics
Established	June 23, 1923
First awarded	November 11, 1923
Precedence
Next (higher)	Cross of Merit with Swords
Next (lower)	Military Cross of Merit with Swords, Air Force Cross of Merit with Swords, Navy Cross of Merit with Swords

The Cross of Merit (Polish: Krzyż Zasługi) is a Polish civil state award established on June 23, 1923, to recognize services to the state.

The Order has three grades:

1. Gold Cross of Merit
2. Silver Cross of Merit
3. Bronze Cross of Merit

At the time of its establishment in 1923, the Cross of Merit was the highest civilian award in Poland. It was awarded to citizens who went beyond the call of duty in their work for the country and society as a whole. May be awarded twice in each grade to the same person.

Recipients

• Moses Schorr (Gold Cross of Merit), Rabbi, Polish Historian, Politician, Bible Scholar, assyriologist and orientalist.
• Michal Korwin-Szymanowski, also known as Michel Korwin (Gold Cross of Merit 2015), Montréal, Canada.
• Bronisława Rychter-Janowska (Gold Cross of Merit 1939), Cracovian artist.^[1]
• Henri Strzelecki (Gold Cross of Merit 1990), co-founder of Henri Lloyd.^[2]
• Henryk Staniewski (Silver Cross of Merit 198-, Gold Cross of Merit 1998) Director of the Department of Computer Networks and Communications in Lublin, Poland
• Izabella Zielińska (Gold Cross of Merit 2011), Polish pianist
• Michał Kwiatkowski (Gold Cross of Merit 2014), Polish road cyclist
• Jerzy Zralski (Gold Cross of Merit 2000), II WW veteran and writer ^[3]
• Bogdan Labecki (Gold Cross of Merit 2013).^[3]
• Tomasz Miśkiewicz - for work with the immigrant and native Islamic Youth in 2006
• Michal Kuleczka (Gold Cross of Merit 2013).^[3]
• Bogdan Labecki (Gold Cross of Merit 2013).^[3]
• John Dodunski (Cross of Merit 2013) - New Zealand - March 2013
• Margaret Scannell née Dodunski (Cross of Merit 2013) - New Zealand - March 2013
• Robert Dodunski (Cross of Merit 2013) - New Zealand - March 2013
• Tomasz Trembowski (Bronze Cross of Merit 2013) - Canada - May 2013 ^[4]
• Elwira Grossman (Gold Cross of Merit 2013) - Scotland - August 2013
• Rudolf Gundlach (Silver Cross of Merit) - Gundlach tank periscope inventor
• Agnieszka Radwańska (Gold Cross of Merit) - Tennis Player ^[5]
• Katarzyna Maria Dziewanowska- (Gold Cross of Merit) Scientific Research - University of Idaho September 26, 2013
• Marcin Pawel Grzadka (Silver Cross of Merit) - Harcmistrz, Co-Founder of YPCPA.^[6] & Chairman of Quo Vadis Leadership Conference.^[7] - Canada - November 2013
• Natalia Kusendova (Silver Cross of Merit)

• Filip Slipaczek (Silver Cross of Merit 2014) - UK - May 2014 ^[8]
• Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm (Gold Cross of Merit - 20 June 2014), USA, writer and academic
• Tomasz Moczerniuk (Silver Cross of Merit) - New York - September 2014 ^[9]
• Grzegorz Fryc (Silver Cross of Merit) - New York - September 2014 ^[9]
• Adam Skorek (Gold Cross of Merit - 2004)
• Karol Kłos (Gold Cross of Merit - 27 October 2014) - volleyball player, World Champion 2014
• Andrzej Wrona (Gold Cross of Merit - 27 October 2014) - volleyball player, World Champion 2014
• Fabian Drzyzga (Gold Cross of Merit - 27 October 2014) - volleyball player, World Champion 2014
• Paweł Zatorski (Gold Cross of Merit - 27 October 2014) - volleyball player, World Champion 2014
• Mateusz Mika (Gold Cross of Merit - 27 October 2014) - volleyball player, World Champion 2014
• Philippe Blain (Gold Cross of Merit - 27 October 2014) - coach of Poland men's national volleyball team - World Champions 2014
• John P. Lynch (Gold Cross of Merit - 3 November 2014) - CEO & Founder Lynka ^[10]
• Michael Biegler (Gold Cross of Merit) - The German head coach of the Polish national handball team.

Thomas Gabriel Grasza Esq (Gold Cross of Merit - November 11th, 2011) Postage Stamp & Coin Designer and Noted Canadian Polish Philatelist of Four Decades.

See also

• Cross of Merit (Polish Scouting and Guiding Association)

References

1. iPSB (2014). "Bronisława Rychter-Janowska (1868 - 1953, malarka)". Internetowy Polski Słownik Biograficzny. Narodowy Instytut Audiowizualny. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
2. Edwards, Anna (2012-12-28). "'Visionary pioneer' behind Henri Lloyd brand and who was first to use Velcro in clothing dies aged 87". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
3. "Government House (Award to Canadians)". Canada Gazette. Vol. 134, No. 43 — October 21, 2000. from: www.http://publications.gc.ca/gazette/archives/p1/2000/2000-10-21/pdf/g1-13443.pdf
4. "Government House (Award to Canadians)". Canada Gazette. Vol. 147, No. 4 — January 26, 2013. Retrieved May 3rd, 2013 from: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2013/2013-01-26/html/gh-rg-eng.html#c101
5. http://www.sport.pl/celebrities/51,83535,14244838.html?i=3
6. Grzadka, Marcin (2013-11-12). "Co-founder of, first President, and Chairman of the Young Polish Canadian Professionals Association". YPCPA. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
7. Grzadka, Marcin (2013-11-12). "Chairman of Quo Vadis 3 - International leadership conference, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada - May 2011. Advisor to 2012 conference in Calgary, Canada & Chicago, USA.". QVC. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
8. "Polish Embassy London (Awarded for Polish-Jewish dialogue)". Retrieved July 15th, 2014 from: http://www.londyn.msz.gov.pl/en/c/MOBILE/news/silver_cross_of_merit__for_filip_slipaczek
9. "Awards at the Consulate General of Poland in New York". Retrieved September 24th, 2014 from: http://www.prezydent.pl/aktualnosci/ordery-i-odznaczenia/art,1369,odznaczenia-w-konsulacie-generalnym-rp-w-nowym-jorku.html
10. http://amcham.pl/about-us/news