Criteria
In accordance with Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 33 as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after 67A the following section: 67B. There shall be a Massachusetts Medal of Fidelity to be presented to the Next of Kin of service members or veterans from the Commonwealth who died as the result of either: (i) combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder, or other disorder approved by the Adjutant General; (ii) condition resulting from a serviceconnected traumatic brain injury or (iii) a combatconnected disease, condition or injury related to the exposure to harmful toxins, herbicides, agents or materials, where the exposure occurred while serving in the armed forces of the united States, active or reserve components, or the Massachusetts National Guard. A service member must have entered military service or state active duty from the Commonwealth, have been a resident of the Commonwealth at the time of death, or have been a member of the Massachusetts National Guard at the time of death. To be eligible, a service member or veteran must have served after December 6, 1941. The Adjutant General or designee, and 2 field grade officers of the armed forces of the Commonwealth, detailed by the Commander-In-Chief shall constitute a commission to make recommendations to the Commander-In-Chief for the awarding of the Massachusetts Medal of Fidelity.
Some Examples of Eligibility for the Medal of Fidelity are deaths caused by:
1. Agent Orange
2. Blue Water Exposure
3. Burn Pit Exposure
4. Exposure to any Chemical, Biological, Radiological Agent or Pollutant
5. Oil Fire Exposure
6. 9/11 Ground Zero Recovery
7. Radiation Producing Equipment
8. Asbestos Exposure
9. Combat Related Mental Illness (PTSD)
How to Apply:
1. Complete part I and II of TAG MA Form 3368.
Also enclose all documentation you feel will be helpful in the application process. Documentation should come from federal or state medical or Veterans Department, and state the cause of death, and identify how the cause death was service related.
2. Mail to:
JFHQ-MA
Office of the Adjutant General
Attention: Medal of Fidelity
2 Randolph Road - Bldg. 1505
Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-3001
3. Or Submit via Email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Surviving family members requesting the Medal of Fidelity must apply for the award through the Office of the Adjutant General, 2 Randolph Road, Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Military Records Office, War Records Section in the Office of the Adjutant General is responsible for validating and approving requests.
Following a review, validation, and approval of records, the Next of Kin of service members of the Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force and the United States Merchant Marine Corps found to be qualified are awarded the Massachusetts Medal of Fidelity by the Office of the Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard.
Please allow three (3) months for the Medal of Fidelity applications to be processed.
Links
MA Veteran's Services: Cemeteries and Honors
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: National Cemetery Administration