52 Orders of Merit were handed out today to the members of Portugal’s search and rescue team, deployed in Turkey following the devastating earthquake of February 6. President Marcelo decorated the men and women who only recently returned from their mission, saying it was a “symbolic testimony of national recognition” and “gratitude” for their efforts. The country’s head of State referred to the mission as demonstrating “the competence, dedication, delivery, sense of service and solidarity, readiness of this force that can, on behalf of Portugal, show concrete solidarity to save lives and to live moments of humanity and the proof of Portugal’s humanity in international life.”
