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sergeant
Alexander van Aalten, (a descendant of Dutch ancestors) posthumously received the Decoration of Merit in gold. On 20 April 2007 Van Aalten, while in
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The medal has the shape of an old Dutch fortresses in the style that was introduced in the late 17th century by the Dutch fortress builder
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on their uniform with the same composition (although on the ribbon bar of the golden medal has a golden palm branch added to it).
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while attempting to retrieve the body of Strik. The golden
Decoration of Merit was presented by Netherlands Minister of Defence
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to the widow Shana van Aalten. The family of sergeant Van Aalten chose to have their son buried at
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for bravery in the
Netherlands. The medal was established by the Dutch minister of defence,
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exceptional merits towards the armed forces which are incidentally of nature,
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blue ribbon that has narrow red and white borders. Recipients may wear a
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particular merits of Dutch and foreign civil and military authorities.
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The ministerial decree requires four criteria for granting:
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exceptional activities for the
Netherlands Armed forces.
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to the standard of the regiment for the liberation of
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brave action in conflict situations in peace time, and
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291:individual courage in life-threatening situations,
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305:added a fifth criteria for granting the medal:
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426:Van Aalten was a member of the 1st Battalion,
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356:", the symbol of the fourth branch, the
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423:. The presentation was at Arlington.
395:American sergeant posthumously awarded
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447:Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
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421:Arlington National Cemetery
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362:KONINKRIJK DER NEDERLANDEN
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269:Defence ministries in
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399:On 12 September 2007
370:MINISTER VAN DEFENSIE
63:"Decoration of Merit"
322:Medal of Recognition
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378:Minister of Defence
318:military decoration
252:military decoration
248:Decoration of Merit
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153:Military decoration
132:Decoration of Merit
358:Royal Marechaussee
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301:In 2002, minister
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405:Afghanistan
212:Established
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162:Awarded for
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220:Precedence
74:newspapers
413:land mine
31:does not
455:Nijmegen
439:division
401:American
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165:See text
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352:. The "
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