Order of the Von Arthur Cross

The Order of the Von Arthur Cross, or The Von Arthur Cross, is the Highest Royal Award in Ruritania. It was given by Queen Maria Adelheid Von Arthur to Major General J.E. Kawallis, Captain Fritz Dreyfus, Captain Hans Dalrymple, Captain Mari Solinski and Captain Zandra Niko. It has only been given 102 times since 1866.

History and Award Criteria
The Order of the Von Arthur Cross was established by King Heinrich Von Arthur I in 1866 as a high award to be given for service, valor and honor to the people of Ruritania. It is awarded only by the Monarch of Ruritania and only to those who displayed service, valor and honor with a citable service event, valorous service in the saving of life or destruction of a clear and present threat to the nation and honorable selflessness.

A variety of lesser awards are available for those who do not meet the criteria with several being ROYAL ORDERS and others being Ruritanian Army, Navy or Air Force Awards.

Members of the Order of the Von Arthur Cross hold the honorable title of Knight or Dame of The realm with minor titles and amenities. A stipend and pension is set aside for those who are awarded to provide for their retirement.

Description and Wear
The Von Arthur Cross is a series of Cross pattée shapes with silver cross at the center, gold one then a black enamel outline. In the center are the letters "VA," for the Royal House of Von Arthur in silver against a gold background within a dark enamel circle. This circle is offset by two swords, a DARK SWOARD reflecting the loss of war and a SILVER SWORD to show the valor of defending the nation from threats. The Initials of the Monarch are included on the TOP of the cross and the YEAR of ISSUE are the bottom. The cross is topped by three OAK leafs representing service, valor and honor. The ribbon is sky blue with two stripes at its edge. It is worn around the neck or as a ribbon in a button hole of the tunic of Ruritanian military uniforms and as a ribbon if allowed on foreign uniforms.

Each medal is made by the Royal Jeweler of Ruritania upon issuance of a citation of The Order. It is awarded with the medal, the ribbon, a ribbon bar, a mini-medal, a label pin and a civilian blazer version in gold and silver bullion.

It is to be worn with all service dress and mess dress uniforms, but not on utilities. it use with civilian attire is encouraged for state affairs either in its neck form, with a black tuxedo or as a bullion accouterment on a blazer.

The Order of the Von Arthur Cross can be worn on foreign military uniforms if officially approved by that nation's government.

For the United States military it is worn as a US style ribbon after all US Military awards. On mess dress it can be worn as a US Style mini-medal.

The Order of The Von Arthur Cross Uniform
In 1907 a special variant of the Ruritanian Military uniform was created for those who achieved the Order of The Von Arthur Cross. It is a made up of a dark blue uniform tunic with red trim and a red collar. The service cap is similarly blue with red trim. All awards and rank symbols are worn as on any uniform.

Civilian recipients are allowed to dawn such uniforms displaying the honorary rank of captain. Such members owe no military service but are addressed by said rank when in uniform and given appropriate customs and courtesies by lower ranking military and are expected to offer appropriate customs and courtesies to those of higher rank.

This uniform is not to be worn by any other organization, military and/or civilian.