6 November 2024 was not only a significant day in global affairs, but also for the Order of St. George, as our Procurator Baron Vinzenz von Stimpfl-Abele was awarded the Golden Medal of Merit of the Republic of Austria. None other than Federal Minister Mag. Karoline Edtstadler invited him to the Federal Chancellery and took the opportunity to honour him personally.
In her opening words, the Federal Minister described our Procurator with the three words that were essential to her: ‘You are a Salzburger, an Austrian and a European’. She went on to emphasise Baron Vinzenz von Stimpfl-Abele’s great voluntary engagement on a national and international level.
The official laudatory speech was given by the Chairman of the Knights of Honour, former Governor Univ. Prof. Dr. Franz Schausberger, who outlined the biography of our procurator from his family roots through his various professional stations to his current position. He referred several times to his commitment to a strong Central Europe and the central role Baron Vinzenz von Stimpfl-Abele played in this as Procurator of the Order of St. George. During his time as Procurator, he had developed the Order into a cross-party value authority which would fulfil the standing of the archducal house in our common Europe.
In his speech of thanks, Procurator Baron Vinzenz von Stimpfl-Abele emphasised the significance of this award, as he feels that it is not a matter of course that someone like him, who has stood by his conservative values all his life and fought against the spirit of the times, would be awarded the Golden Medal of Merit by the Republic. He is glad to live in a society in which one could express one’s opinion and that was precisely what characterises the community in the Order of St. George in particular. For him, the award is not only a confirmation, but also a mission to continue on this path and the presence of family, friends and companions encourages him on this path.
The evening came to a proper ending with a reception organised by Vice-Chancellor Michael Blaha, MSc, at the Order Residence, where the opportunity was taken to toast our Procurator in person and the numerous guests, some of whom had travelled a really long way to attend, used the time to chat late into the evening.
Photos: BKA/Florian Schrötter and Order of St. George
