A unit that has been tapped for the Netherlands’ Military Order of William, the country’s oldest and most prestigious military honor, may also be awarded the Netherlands Orange Lanyard—but the Lanyard may also be awarded independently from to the Military Order of William. Award of both the Military Order of William and the authorization to wear the Orange Lanyard come from decrees issued by the Netherlands government.
The only United States unit authorized to wear the Orange Lanyard is the 82nd Airborne Division, which was awarded the Military Order of William on 8 October 1945 through Royal Decree No. 30 and the Orange Lanyard through Ministerial Decree on the same day. The citation accompanying the decrees Orange Lanyard, which delineates the period of time (September 17 to October 4, 1944) for which the Division is being honored, states that “it is desirable for each member of the personnel of the 82d Airborne Division, United States Army, who took part in aforesaid operations, to possess a lasting memento of this glorious struggle.”
Along with the French and Belgian fourragères, the Netherlands Orange Lanyard is sixth in the order of precedence for foreign unit awards. It is worn on the left shoulder, passing under the shoulder loop of the Enlisted ASU jacket; Officers must attach a 20-ligne button to the left shoulder seam in order to attach the lanyard.
Only one lanyard, fourragere, aiguillette or shoulder cord may be worn at one time on each shoulder.