I LOVE the rescuers - good choice Sherry! "To strike" a medal means to make it (imagine melting down the gold and casting it into the shape with a design on it). It's a very strange and unusual term in this context. It was done in his honour to celebrate his life and achievements. The medal medal is called "Jean Fromage", by the way, because they are mice and Fromage = Cheese (a mouse's favourite food, of course) in French. I hope that this helps, Tom