[3] In 1921, clarification was provided by Charles Damon Newton, New York State Attorney General that the medal was to be awarded for military but not civilian service.
I advise you that in my opinion chapter 122 of the Laws of 1919 was not intended to provide medals for persons who served the United States in civilian capacities during the World War.
To hold that the medal was intended to be award to persons other than those entering the military or naval service would make it necessary to award medals not only to all employees of war-time industries taken over by the United States, but to every employee of the railroads, telephone, telegraph and cable companies, etc.
To J. Leslie Kincaid, The Adjutant-General[4]Dieges's design was accepted by a committee consisting of New York State Governor Alfred Emanuel Smith, New York State Adjutant General Charles W. Berry, and William A. Saxton of the War Records Bureau.
Chapter 122 of the Laws of 1919 appoints a board consisting of the Governor, Adjutant-General and Chief of the Bureau of War Records to design and purchase bronze medals to honor and to adopt a suitable service ribbon as a mark of distinction and honor for all citizens of this State who entered the service of the United States in the War with the German Empire and its allies.
The law provides that the bronze medals shall be presented by the State to the persons mentioned above or to the family of such of them as shall have died after entering such service.
The reverse of the medal shows the official seal of the State in the upper center, relieved by a wreath of laurel and oak.