The National Museum of History of Moldova holds a rich collection of military awards from the 18^th - 21^st centuries. This valuable collection is very little known to the large public, this serving as motive for the organization of the exhibition „Manhood and Faith".

To crate a broader image regarding the origin of the military awards to the visiting public, the presentation is done in progressive order of chronological and typological perspective, and brings together a selection of over 200 representative pieces from this collection.

The exhibition discourse begins with two Sarmatian phalerae dated with the 1^st-2^nd centuries AD. The historic, artistic and intrinsic value of these authentic jewels should be remarked as they are symbols of the respective authority.

The modern and contemporary periods are the golden age of the decoration awards; more precisely from the expansionist policy of Friedrich II's Prussia and Peter I's Russia. The maximum centers of interest in the exhibition are the west-European, Romanian and Russian orders and medals from the 18^th-19^th centuries: Order of St. Stanislav, 3^rd degree. Russia, 1765; Order of St. Ana, 3^rd degree. Russia, 1787; Order Virtuti Militari. Poland, 1792; Order of the Rising Sun, 5^th degree. Japan, 1878. Among the pieces on display is remarkable the Order Star of Romania, the first Romanian order established by the law voted on May 10^th, 1877.

The military distinctions from the tumultuous period of the Russian-Turkish wars are of special interest: Medal Battle from Cahul. Russia, 1770; Medal Peace from Kuciuk-Kainargi. Russia, 1774; Medal Peace with Turkey. Russia, 1791; Medal Sea battle from Česmen. Russia, 1770 etc.

The distinctions from the period of the Russian-Turkish wars alternate with those from the two World Wars (1914-1918; 1940-1945): The Iron Cross. Prussia, 1914; Medal Cross of Fire. Austria, 1914; The Cross St. George, 1^st-4^th degrees. Russia, 1914; Order of the White Cloud, Manchuria. 1932; Order of the Polar Star. Mongolia, 1937; Order Kutuzov, 1^st degree. USSR, 1944; Order Suvorov, 2^nd degree. USSR, 1944; Cross Grünwald. Poland, 1944; Medal Ushakov, 2^nd degree. USSR, 1944; Order Za Vitezctvi. Czechoslovakia, 1945; Order Alexandr Nevski. USSR, 1944; Order Otečestvennaja Vojna, 1^st-2^nd degree. USSR, 1942.

The exhibition continues with a series of postwar orders and medals of the former socialist countries: Order Tudor Vladimirescu. Romania, 1966; Order Ian Žižca. Czechoslovakia, 1946; Medal Veteran Voorujionnyh Sil SSSR. USSR, 1976; Medal Za Otličie v voinskoj slujbe. USSR, 1974.

Some decorations are accompanied with patents with the name of the decorated person, the decree number and the reason for awarding the distinction.

The exhibition display ends with state military distinctions of the Republic of Moldova awarded for acts of heroism and cunning leadership of military operations. The highest distinction in this category is the Order of Ştefan cel Mare, established in 1992.

For a solemn and sober appearance, the exhibition is complemented with flags, banners, battle standards.

The exhibition Manhood and Faith distributes information about the past and awakens feelings of veneration towards the ancestors inspiring the desire to carry on their great goals.