Aposthumous award is an award that is granted after the recipient has died.[1] Many prizes, medals, and awards can be grantedposthumously.[2]
Military decorations, such as theVictoria Cross or theMedal of Honor, are often given posthumously. The titleHero of the Soviet Union was posthumously given, but the Gold Star medal was not awarded itself. DuringWorld War II, many countries practiced the granting of posthumous awards.[3] In the Soviet Union, the only posthumous award that was physically awarded was theOrder of the Patriotic War. All other awards were not physically awarded. Until 1977, upon the death of an awardee, all medals and awards were returned.[4] Less commonly, certain prizes, medals, and awards are grantedonly posthumously, especially those that honor people who died in service to a particular cause. Such awards include theConfederate Medal of Honor award, to Confederate veterans who distinguished themselves conspicuously during theAmerican Civil War (1861–1865), and theDag Hammarskjöld Medal, to military personnel, police, or civilians who died while serving in aUnited Nationspeacekeeping operation.
Sports awards and titles can be awarded posthumously, for example 1970Formula One championJochen Rindt, who died in a crash late in the season, but still had enough points to be named champion.[5]
Australian actorHeath Ledger wonmany awards after his death in 2008, particularly concerning his performance asThe Joker in the filmThe Dark Knight.[6]
