The "Silver Star" is the successor award to the earlier "Citation Star". The Citation Star was established by an act of Congress on July 9, 1918. On July 19, 1932, the Secretary of War approved changing the "Citation Star" to the Silver Star Medal. The original "Citation Star" is added to the center of medal. The "Silver Star's" ribbon is red, white and blue. Authorization for the Silver Star Medal was placed into law by an act of Congress for the U.S. Navy on August 7, 1942. An Act of Congress for the U.S. Army was authorized on December 15, 1942. The US Army and Air Force currently awards the medal as the "Silver Star". The US Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard continues to award the medal as the "Silver Star Medal".