The Solemn Session of the Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores to be held Monday in the municipality of Madalena will be celebrated with the bestowal of 38 Honour Commendations upon personalities and institutions.
 
In a joint organisation of the Legislative Assembly and the Government of the Azores, this ceremony will distinguish 23 personalities, five of them posthumously, and 15 regional institutions.
 
The Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores was established by the Legislative Assembly in 1980.
 
The date, observed throughout the archipelago as a regional holiday, celebrates the "affirmation of the identity of the Azorean people, their philosophy of life and their regional unity." In this context, they are regarded as "the basis and justification of the political autonomy that has been proudly recognised and recognised."
 
The Azorean Commendations, whose legal scheme was approved in 2002, aim to distinguish "citizens and legal persons who have distinguished themselves by personal or institutional merits, acts, civic deeds or by services rendered to the Region."
 
There are four Honour Commendations in the Azores: Insígnia Autonómica de Valor (Autonomic Commendation of Value), Insígnia Autonómica de Reconhecimento (Autonomic Commendation of Recognition), Insígnia Autonómica de Mérito (Autonomic Commendation of Merit that comprises professional merit, industrial, commercial and agricultural merit, and civic merit) and Insígnia Autonómica de Dedicação (Autonomic Commendation of Dedication).
 
The Autonomic Commendation of Value intends to distinguish "the exceptionally relevant performance of positions at regional self-government bodies or at the service of the Region" or civic deeds of great relevance."
 
In turn, the Autonomic Commendation of recognition aims to honour "the acts or the conduct of exceptional relevance" of Portuguese and foreign citizens who "value and confer prestige to the Region in the Country or abroad," who "contribute to the expansion of the Azorean culture or to the knowledge of the Azores and of their history or who "distinguish themselves by their literary, scientific, artistic or sports merit."
 
The Autonomic Commendation of Merit intends to distinguish "meritorious acts or services rendered by Portuguese or foreign citizens in the exercise of public or private duties."
 
This commendation is divided into the Professional Merit category, "to distinguish the exceptional performance in any professional activity, whether by self-employed workers or by employees"; Industrial, Commercial and Agricultural Merit "to award those who, having undertaken their action in industrial, commercial or agricultural areas, have distinguished themselves for important services in the development these areas or by exceptional merits in their action; Civic Merit, "to honour those who, according to a clear understanding of their civic duties, have relevantly contributed to the services for the community, namely in social and cultural areas."
 
Finally, the Autonomic Commendation of Dedication "aims to distinguish relevant services rendered in the performance of duties in the Public Administration as well as to honour the workers who demonstrate unusual qualities in their position and who, by their conduct, may become an example to follow."
 
According to the legislation establishing the Azorean honour commendations, those distinguished with these awards have the duty to "honour the Region" in all circumstances and to "dignify the commendation by all means."
 
The list of personalities and institutions distinguished this year with Autonomic Commendation at the Solemn Session of the Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores is as follows:
 
Insígnia Autonómica de Reconhecimento - Autonomic Commendation of Recognition
 
- Albino Cristiano Alves Gomes (posthumously)
- Francisco Amâncio de Oliveira Macedo (posthumously)
- João Luís Pavão de Aguiar Machado
- John Carlos Martins
- José Martins Garcia (posthumously)
- Luís da Silva Alves
- Maria Adelaide Correia Monteiro de Freitas
- Maria Teodora de Borba
- Mário T Cabral (posthumously)
- Regina de Azevedo Pires Toste Tristão da Cunha
- Victor Rui Ramalho Bettencourt Dores
 
Insígnia Autonómica de Mérito Profissional - Autonomic Commendation of Professional Merit
 
- António Manuel de Frias Martins
- Armando Ademar Monteiro Anahory (posthumously)
- Eduardo Manuel Arruda Carreiro da Costa
- Gilberta Margarida de Medeiros Pavão Nunes Rocha
- Manuel Humberto Neves
- Maria Rosa Pacheco Leite
 
Insígnia Autonómica de Mérito Industrial, Comercial e Agrícola - Autonomic Commendation of Industrial, Commercial and Agricultural Merit
 
- José de Chaves Carvalho
- José Manuel Oliveira Melo
- Basílio Simões & Irmãos, Lda.
- Cooperativa Agrícola Lacticínios do Faial
 
Insígnia Autonómica de Mérito Cívico - Autonomic Commendation of Civic Merit
 
- Ana Paula Espínola da Costa
- Armindo Pedro Louro
- João Carlos Cardoso Pinheiro
- Lúcia Elnora Nóia
- Almanaque do Camponez
- Associação Humanitária dos Bombeiros Voluntários da Ilha do Corvo
- Casa dos Açores do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul
- Casa dos Açores do Rio de Janeiro
- Casa dos Açores de Santa Catarina
- Casa dos Açores de São Paulo
- Casa de Repouso João Inácio de Sousa
- Casa de Saúde do Espírito Santo – Irmãs Hospitaleiras
- Confederação Operária Terceirense
- Delegação da Cruz Vermelha de Angra do Heroísmo
- Jornal O Dever
- Santa Casa da Misericórdia das Lajes do Pico
- Sociedade Filarmónica Liberdade Lajense.