Order of Saint Barbara

[1] Saint Barbara, the daughter of a wealthy aristocrat, was tortured and executed after her father discovered she had converted to Christianity.

Because of this, she soon was regarded as the patron saint in time of danger from thunderstorms, fires and sudden death.

Saint Barbara was invoked by these early cannoneers in the hope she would protect them from this fate.

[2] The Order of Saint Barbara is awarded through the U.S. Field Artillery Association (USFAA) and the Air Defense Artillery Association (ADAA) and has two levels: Those awarded the Order of Saint Barbara receive a medallion attached to a red ribbon.

One side of the medallion has a cannon, the other a likeness of Saint Barbara standing by a tower with three windows.