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The Veterans Honor Medal — Four Ribbons, and a Family Can Claim It

The state issues a Veterans Honor Medal to honorably discharged Louisiana veterans, and to the families of those killed in action. The ribbon says which: blue for an honorable discharge, purple for a Purple Heart recipient, black for prisoners of war and the missing in action, and yellow for those killed in action.

Verified August 23, 2026

What this benefit is

The state issues a Veterans Honor Medal to honorably discharged Louisiana veterans, and to the families of those killed in action. The ribbon says which: blue for an honorable discharge, purple for a Purple Heart recipient, black for prisoners of war and the missing in action, and yellow for those killed in action.

What it's worth: A state medal with the ribbon that matches the service, on application

  • This is recognition, not money, and no cash value is claimed for it.
  • The department publishes no fee for the medal and no limit on how many years after service it may be claimed.

Who is entitled to it

  • The medal goes to the veteran, or to the family where the veteran was killed in action.
  • Your discharge meets the department’s test.
  • You are in this state.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

  1. 1Apply online, or ask for a fillable PDF and return it by email, by fax to (225) 219-5590, or by post to the Honor Medal address at the department.
  2. 2Say on the form which category applies. The application asks you to check all that apply from living, deceased, killed in action, Purple Heart, and POW/MIA — and that is what decides the ribbon.
  3. 3The four ribbons are: blue for an honorable discharge, purple for a Purple Heart recipient, black for a prisoner of war or missing in action, and yellow for those killed in action.
  4. 4A family may claim on behalf of a veteran killed in action; the department names families of the killed in action as eligible applicants in their own right.
  5. 5If you would rather have an application posted to you, the department will send one — call (225) 219-3700, or the toll free line on 1-877-432-8982.
  6. 6A deceased veteran who was not killed in action is still inside the form’s categories, so a family should apply rather than assume the medal is only for the living or only for the fallen.
Form
Online application, or a fillable PDF application
File with
Department of Veterans Affairs, ATTN: Honor Medal, PO Box 94095, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9095 — or by email or fax
Documents you will need
dd214
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
CorrectionThe medal is commonly described as something presented at a ceremony to a selected few. It is not — it is applied for, by the veteran or by the family of a veteran killed in action, on an ordinary form, and the department will post an application to anyone who rings for one.
Worth knowingThe ribbon carries the information. Because the colour is set by the category you tick — honorable discharge, Purple Heart, prisoner of war or missing in action, killed in action — the medal is worth applying for accurately rather than quickly.
Known gapNo statute or regulation is cited because none could be read; the state statute server does not answer from here. Whether the medal has a statutory basis, and whether there is any residency test beyond being a Louisiana veteran, are unverified.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.