Whether it is a Service Bar, Citation Bar, Flag Bar or Award Bar, we can create any custom lapel pin bar to the correct specifications.  We stock many of the service bars and citation bars.  Please contact for pricing information on the service bars. Whether it is years of service, flag bars, or an "In Memory Of" Service Bar, The Pin People have the experience to build the perfect piece.

STOCK CITATION BARS

Our Service Bars and Citations Bars are durable and can be worn by Police Officers, Fire Fighters, EMS Personnel and Security Officers during normal duty.  Our bars are designed by members of the service that are on our staff.

Citation bars can be broken down into several different categories.

• Citation Bars

• Service Bars

• Indicator Bars

• Memorial Bars

CITATION BARS

History of Citation Bars:

The history of citation bars dates back to military history, specifically the time of the American Civil war (1861-1865).  The award medals were issued by commanders and were awarded on an unofficial basis.   The Spanish-American war (1898) is where first recognized medals or military decoration were introduced.  A military decoration or military awards is a decoration given to military personnel or units for heroism in battle or distinguished service. These citations were to be worn on a military uniform.   
 

A military decoration was comprised of a medal and a ribbon. The first awards were comprised of a ribbon that would be worn around the neck.  Later, the back of the ribbon came equipped with a metal fastener, very similar to a safety pin that would be pinned to the uniform.  The medal was a molded piece of medal of a specific design with a ribbon attached to the top that could be pinned to a uniform.   
 

Medals would be worn on dress uniforms.  Later the military began using ribbons that would symbolize the medal.  The citation ribbon was cloth material either in a solid color or multiple colors to differentiate the type of award that was being displayed and represented the medal that was awarded.   They were and are presently made out of a fabric material and backed to a metal support.   These ribbons were worn over the right breast pocket on a uniform shirt. They were smaller and would be worn on garrison uniforms to outwardly display a service member's accomplishments.  These ribbon citation bars could be worn in a horizontal citation bar rack that could have many rows, to hold many different awards. 
 

Law Enforcement adopted this concept of smaller medals that were more manageable for everyday wear.  Some departments still wear the commendations over the right breast, very much like the military.  Other departments decided to have all of the awards on the left breast, in a leather citation bar holder.  In the leather citation bar holder, the badge would be on the bottom, and the award would be worn above the badge.  The highest award would be placed at the top of the holder and lesser citations would be below it, in order of importance.   
 

Still to this day, many departments have their own system for the citation bars.  There has been no standardization for the color bars and size.