Title (First, Second and Third Classes) This award () was for participation in both military and civil struggles of Burma's independence. This award is granted for service in three different periods: 8 January to 26 July 1942 27 July 1942 to 26 March 1945 27 March to 15 August 1945 Participants in all three periods were awarded the First Class, participants in only two periods received the second class and participants in only in one period were awarded the third class. The provision of this award can be passed down to direct heirs of the original participant and to be worn, multi-generationally, in this fashion similar to the awards bestowed by the ancient Myanmar kings to their loyal subjects. It was established in 1953 and the last Independence Mawgunwin Title (First, Second and Third Classes) was awarded on 24 November 1986. Aung San Thuriya Medal Instituted in 1948, the Aung San Thuriya (အောင်ဆန်းသူရိယဘွဲ့) medal is the highest recognition for valour and gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the Myanmar Armed Forces of any ranks in any services. This is the highest military award in Myanmar and it is equivalent to British Victoria Cross and German Knight Cross of the Iron Cross. The decoration is a one and half inch (3.8 cm) stainless steel stylized sun of sixteen rays. Suspended by an integral straight bar suspender. The name of the recipient name and year of award is engraved on the reverse and the sun was held by two ribbons. To this day, there have only been six Aung San Thuriya medals has been awarded and only one of the recipients is civilian. The recipients are: Thiha Thura Medal The decoration is a bronze stylized Burmese lion, with the name of the decoration written in Burmese "Thiha Thura" (သီဟသူရ) on the scroll below. The ribbon is 1.25 inches (32 mm), bright red with yellow edges or red with dark green centre stripes. A total of 47 Thiha Thura Medals has been awarded between 1949 and 2018 January. Thura Medal A gold depiction of a stylized rising sun with the central sun in red enamel. The ribbon is 32 mm, bright red with yellow edges and a yellow center stripe. To date, a total of 547 Thura medals has been awarded. The only woman to be awarded the medal is Ma Chit Po. History In