Awarded with the Certificate of Appreciation for Patriotic Public Service, this lapel pin express the Army’s recognition of patriotic service performed by civilians not related to the official positions of an individual or a group. To qualify for consideration, these off-duty activities must be of a public-service nature that contribute to an Army element’s accomplishment of a mission or benefits the welfare of Army personnel. The award also serves to recognize civilian employees whose community service reflects positively on an Army activity, mission, or installation.
This award is granted by the Secretary of the Army or by any commander at a rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and has been used to highlight morale-boosting efforts and other uplifting contributions from all sectors of society. In 1990, for instance, the Secretary of the Army issued the award to Mort Walker, the cartoonist responsible for the comic strip “Beetle Bailey” that good-naturedly lampooned military life.