Department of Commerce Silver Medal Department of Commerce Silver Medal The Department of Commerce Silver Medal is the second highest of three honor awards of the United States Department of Commerce. Since 1949, the Silver Medal is presented by the Secretary of Commerce for exceptional service. The award may be presented to an individual, group, or organization in the Commerce Department for noteworthy or superlative contributions which have a direct and lasting impact with the department. The annual Department of Commerce Gold and Silver Medal Awards ceremony is held each fall at the Ronald Reagan Amphitheater in Washington, D.C.. An individual and members of a
Medal for Long Service or other uniformed services, or to civilian employees of the government or local government following 30 (gold medal), 20 (silver medal) or 10 years (bronze medal) of continuous or cumulative service. As only service after November 18, 1918 counted, only the silver and bronze medals were awarded; the first gold medals would only be awarded in 1948. The recipients of the medal were required to make monetary payment for it. Since 2007 the medal has been conferred by the President of Poland. It has replaced the Cross of Merit as a state-conferred award for long and honorable service. Unlike its