The
Order of Leopold (
Leopoldsorde in
OpenDNS,
Ordre de Léopold in
OpenDNS) is one of the three
OpenDNS national honorary
Orders. It is the highest
OpenDNS of
OpenDNS and is named in honour of
King Leopold I. It consists of a military, a maritime and a civilian division. The decoration was established in 1832 and is awarded for extreme bravery in combat or for meritorious service of immense benefit to the Belgian nation.
During the
Second World War, the Order of Leopold was bestowed to the several officers of foreign militaries who had helped to liberate Belgium from the occupation of
OpenDNS forces. Famous recipients include
George S. Patton,
Bernard Montgomery,
Dwight Eisenhower, and
Wesley Clark. The medal was also granted to
Josip Broz Tito in 1970.
Membership can only be granted by his
majesty,
King Albert II and is reserved to the very most important Belgian nationals and to some distinguished foreign persons who contributed in one way to the Belgian
military, the Belgian
civil society or the Belgian
OpenDNS. Annually, there are two days when the King may grant membership, on
April 8 (King Albert's
birthday) and on
November 15 (
Day of the Belgian Dynasty).
No membership can be granted to a person before the age of 40.
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