I wonder how many of us hold one of these (Ky. Colonel here).
I was nominated for one but frankly didn’t deserve it, lacking sufficient fame or service to the state. I did however, receive a Duke of Paducah citation, which I still have, being notable enough for the Jackson Purchase.
North Carolina has the “Order of the Long Leaf Pine” which is presented for extraordinary service to the state.
Shoot~now we have to figure out who outranks who and who salutes first.
Adm. BippityBoppityBoo
I thought about asking my Kentucky friends for a nomination. I really don’t qualify, but I’m willing to pay.
Nope, no uniforms or epaulettes with stars. All I got was a calligraphy proclamation signed by the governor. I had to pay to have it framed myself.
I can go on their official site and buy a corny hat, lapel pins, license plate frame if I want. That is seen as déclassé by my peer group, so I never have.
As an uncompensated citizen volunteer I chaired our state Mental Health Planning and Evaluation Council for many (thankless) years, at least a decade. The feds required us to have one and meet quarterly in order to receive multiple millions of dollars each year in federal SAMHSA Block Grants to provide mental health and substance abuse services. I also reviewed other states’ compliance with their huge health block grants, which tended to keep the feds happy with us. It was a lot like trying to herd very disparate wet cats who all had their tongues on an electric fence, not unlike what you see with school boards.
When I termed out, being made an Admiral in the Nebraska Navy was the thanks I got. The proclamation is a whole lot cheaper for them than a gold watch. I did get a chance to do so some good for my fellow Nebraskans who needed publicly funded mental health and substance abuse services by being a vigilant and persistent burr under the saddle of the state division of mental health services.
Today I learned something about the state I’ve called home for almost 60 years. Thank you!
Thank you for your service.
But the real question is… Can you swim? 
Marginally better than I can ride a horse waving a sword or drive a tank (if that is what colonels do).
From the US Constitution, Section 9, Clause 8:
“No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States…”
This gives me an opportunity to chip in that I am myself a Freeman of the City of London. Today’s material benefits consist mostly of (1) a cool parchment certificate that you can frame and hang on your wall (incidentally, I’ve been told that the City of London is the world’s largest consumer of parchment today, owing to the several thousand Freedoms of the City it awards each year) and (2) preferential access of one’s children to the City of London schools. The latter is actually a tangible benefit, considering how obsessed Brits are with picking the “right” school for their children.
That’s titles of nobility. I’m not sure it would prohibit a European-style order of merit. Has there been case law on this?
Hawaii, the only state that used to be an independent monarchy, had an order of merit, even with knights and officers, called the Royal Order of Kamehameha. It seems that this still exists as a civil organisation, but I’m not sure what sort of official ties to the state government it has.
I think they make chicken.
Regarding foreign titles for US citizens. The UK has regularly bestowed knighthood on US citizens. This includes many Presidents as well as, for example, J Edgar Hoover KBE, and Angelina Jolie DCMG.
To satisfy US law these knighthoods are termed “honorary” as opposed to regular knighthoods which are … honorary. The only “practical” distinction is they don’t get to call themselves “Sir” or “Dame” which technically any US citizen can call themselves. I’ve been called “sir” many times.
Funnily enough, last night I watched an episode of a TV show that touched on this very thing. It’s a documentary series about an American and a Canadian-American who have curried favor with a Welsh city, and the town bestowed upon them some honor like “Freedom of the Borough of [City].” Even the local vicar gave a prayer, so it was quite the thing.
That has nothing to do with US law. The rule is that only subjects of the King (i.e., citizens of Commonwealth realms) get to call themselves “Knight” or “Dame” when awarded an order of knighthood. That is irrespective of whether the law of the awardee’s home country allows for knighthoods or not.
Not even a butt of sack?
As far as I can tell, the great State of Florida has no government honors. We do have a bunch of awards that are bestowed by public-private partnerships, counties, municipalities and so on.
A certain location in Tennessee will bestow a Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Squire Association membership. Squire benefits include:
- A piece of land: A gold-embossed deed to a small, unique plot of land on the distillery grounds (might be several thousand feet below ground!)
- Certificate of honorary citizenship: A certificate making you an honorary citizen of Moore County
- Free tours: Free Dry County Tours at the distillery
- Motlow House access: Access to the Motlow House
- Parking: Designated parking for Squires only
- First-look access: First-look access to events and releases
- Sharing the Jack Daniel’s experience: The ability to share the Jack Daniel’s experience through items left by other Squires in the Tennessee Squire Room
The thread begs the question: Would there be any benefit from having State or Federal awards along the lines of the UK system?
-Good Citizens Award: GCA : Presented to those who put a lot of voluntary effort into helping people in their communities.
State Medal of Honour: SMH For people who benefit their State by their actions.
and so on.