US General, British Politician Given Highest Military Decoration
The Cross of Merit, I Class - the Ministry of Defense's highest decoration - has been bestowed on Commander of the US Air Forces in Europe Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Liam Fox, Britain's former defense secretary.
Welsh and Fox received the decorations for their efforts in making NATO’s Baltic air policing mission a permanent fixture, the ministry said. The honors were handed out at a Wednesday evening ceremony celebrating the nation’s Independence Day on February 24.
At the same ceremony, the Cross of Merit, III Class was bestowed to Col. Lt. Martin Heremit for his long-term contributions to the nation’s defense and Katri Raudsepp, deputy head of the ministry’s Procurement Department, for developing the defense tender field.
The ministry also presented several gold and silver badges to diplomats, heads of local governments, ministry officials, soldiers and representatives of partner organizations.
Ingrid Teesalu