Harry Truman: “Your generosity this year will decide the fate of thousands more.”

Members of the armed forces of the United States who are awarded the decoration established by this order are authorized to wear the medal and the ribbon symbolic of the award, as may be authorized by uniform regulations approved by the…

The people of the United States have a very great asset in this force.

There is hereby established a medal to be known as the National Security Medal with accompanying ribbons and appurtenances.

I am happy to join with you in the recognition of the 70th Anniversary of the establishment of the Federal Civil Service merit system.