Of course, the Soviet period in the domestic history is very contradictory. And yet he left his contemporaries a great heritage. Today it is very popular to scold the ruling party of that state. And often on business. And yet her reign brought, in addition to negative, many positive tendencies and moments. After all, whatever you say, but before the civil war, Russia was a country hopelessly behind the European leaders - in the technical, economic and Social plan. Moreover, it could well be expected in the near future the fate of Turkey, Iran or China - once great and fearsome to the entire reachable world, but already at the very beginning of the 20th century, due to the archaic compared to Western production, turned into semi-dependent colonies. Thirtieth years, and then the first post-war years, in addition to large-scale repressions, were immortalized also by a grand jerk that allowed the state not only to avoid the sad fate of countries from the third world, but even to make it one of the most highly developed on the planet. This could hardly have been achieved had it not been for the colossal labor of the whole people. Literally his social cult. It is in connection with this that the notion of a "veteran of labor" appeared in the country. Medals of this format were a recognition of the greatest merits before the Motherland. They were awarded to persons who had reached the length of service required to retire.
History of the medal
The decree on the establishment of the award was adopted by the country's leadership in 1974. And its significance persisted until the very division of the republics in 1991. For all these years more than 39 thousand copies of the award "Veteran of Labor" were issued. Medals that celebrated other merits were usually not manufactured in the USSR in such quantities, so this number is quite impressive. However, such a mass character does not detract from the merits of the award. It was a very honorable and valuable insignia. And such a significant volume of circulation can be explained by the following fact. The medal "Veteran of Labor" was awarded in all spheres of activity in the country: collective farmers, scientists, school teachers and directors of industrial enterprises, officers and workers. In the popular masses regalia eventually got the ironic title "Order of Sutulov." This was a hint at the posture defect caused by years of labor.
Composition and appearance of the award "Veteran of Labor"
Medals were made of brass (a mixture of zinc and copper). Their surface was oserebrena. The obverse of such a product with bulging letters was written "USSR", and on top of it there is a state emblem - a sickle and a hammer. Under the image was a laurel branch, surrounded by an inscription on the semicircle "Veteran of Labor." The medals on the reverse had absolutely no relief. However, there was a matte inscription: "For conscientious long-term work." It is believed that products cast in different years had some minor varieties. All products were registered, so the medal "Veteran of Labor of the USSR" was necessarily accompanied by a certificate of its reliability.