The delegate of the Government in Asturias, Delia Losa, has recognized the vocation of public service of the State Security Forces and Armed Forces because they represent “the values of the best Spain”. He said this at the ceremony of handing over two crosses of the Civil Merit Order and four medals of Merit in Civil Protection to people who are “an inspiration” and who remember “the importance of serving others and working for public service.”
The diktguides have been:
- Cruz de Oficial de la Orden del Mérito civil to Obdulio Díaz, chief inspector of the National Police until his recent retirement, for his professional career and especially for the 28 years in which he coordinated the special security device on the occasion of the award of the Princess of Asturias Awards.
- Silver Cross of the Order of Civil Merit to the civil guard Nicolás Fernández, for providing first aid and being decisive to save the life of an unconscious man lying on the ground in Viavélez in February 2022.
- Bronze Medal of Merit of Civil Protection with White Badge to the captain of the Civil Guard Carlos Fernández for his work coordinating the security device of the International Descent of the Sella and the Festival of Les Piragües, and for directing the evacuation of patients from the Hospital of Arrionda in the floods of November 2021.
- Bronze Medal of Merit of Civil Protection with Blue badge to Corporal Héctor Bruces and soldier Manuel Alejandro Cuevas of the Prince Regiment for his work in the fire of the residence ‘Ave María’ of Siero in April 2022, rescuing and providing first aid to patients before the arrival of emergency services.
- Bronze Medal of Merit of Civil Protection with White Badge to the inspector of the National Police Veronica Fernandez, head of the Group of the Provincial Information Brigade, for her career as a negotiator in general and in particular for preventing the suicide of a teenager in an institute in Oviedo in December 2022.
On the Order of Civil Merit
The Order of Merit for Civil Protection was created in 1926 to reward civil merits acquired by personnel dependent on one of the Public Administrations or by persons outside the Administration who provide or have provided relevant services to the State.
About Civil Protection Merit Medals
The Medal of Merit for Civil Protection was created by Order of the Ministry of the Interior on April 13, 1982. It distinguishes people who stand out for their activities in the protection of people and goods that may be affected by emergency situations in cases of serious risk, catastrophe or public calamity.
The Medal of Merit for Civil Protection has three categories: gold, silver and bronze. The granting of one or other of these categories is discretionary and depends on the assessment of the concurrent circumstances in the actions to be distinguished in relation to their objective importance, impact or consequences.
Each of these categories in turn comprises three badges: red, blue and white. With the first, acts of heroism or solidarity are distinguished; with the second, those of collaboration, and with the third, those of cooperation.