ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY
The Cuban Medal for Veterans of the Spanish-American War was established by Cuban Decree-Law Number 867 of February 13, 1934.
ACCEPTANCE BY THE UNITED STATES
Formal acceptance and wear of this medal was never announced because it was a medal for veterans who were no longer on active service.
CRITERIA
The medal was awarded upon application to all members of the Army, Navy or Marine Corps who served in Cuba or its territorial waters during the Spanish-American War.
DESIGNER
The medal was designed by Clarence C. Hollis.
ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
Since this medal was authorized thirty-six years after the Spanish-American War, and since it was a foreign award, its placement in the order of precedence was not announced. It would presumably follow all United States decorations and medals.
DEVICES
No devices were authorized for this medal
DESCRIPTION AND SYMBOLISM
Obverse
In the right half of a silver medallion 35mm in diameter, a left-profile bust of Liberty wearing a Phrygian (liberty) cap beneath a crown of laurel. In the upper left side of the medal is a small five-pointed star (point-up), representing Cuba, with rays emanating from it an all directions, but especially over a landscape beneath, which is suggestive of the plains and mountains of Cuba, which are shown in the background at the lower left of the medal. Directly beneath the star is the inscription Cuba / a los / veteranos / de la / guerra / Hispano-/Americana.
Reverse
In the upper left side of the reverse, the medal bears the coat of arms of Cuba superimposed over a spray of laurel. The remainder of the reverse is taken up with the following text: FIRST, / THAT THE / PEOPLE OF THE / ISLAND OF CUBA / ARE AND OF / RIGHT OUGHT / TO BE FREE AND / INDEPENDENT./ FROM THE JOINT / RESOLUTION OF / APRIL 20TH / 1898.
Ribbon
The ribbon to the Cuban Medal for Veterans of the Spanish-American War is patterned on the Cuban flag; it consists of a field of blue with two parallel white stripes separated by a center stripe of blue. Superimposed over this is a red triangle, point down, which contains a white five-pointed star, point-up.