In April, Human Services department (HHS) employee Jay Merchant received a special recognition from Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. He was appointed Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau.

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Jay Merchant works for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as an international relations advisor.

“The fact that all Counselors for Health and Welfare actively support honoring Mr. Merchant is proof of the importance of his contribution to the US-Netherlands relations in the field of health and welfare,” Dutch Ambassador Rudolph Bekink said, as stated in the website of the Netherlands Embassy,

Bekink also said the document given to Merchant is even more valuable since it is considered to be one of the last letters patent  issued on behalf of the queen.

The Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau is honored to people who have attained special merits for the society.