On Sunday 27 June 2021, President Čaputová granted state decorations to 24 personalities of our social life. 

This ceremony, which is traditionally takes place on the occasion of the anniversary of the creation of the Slovak Republic, could not be held in January this year due to the pandemic. As the president stated in her speech, the past year tested our resilience, limits and humanity and our personal experience in being alone in a turbulent world, when our survival was beyond our control. "We awaited the successes of scientists and physicians with anxiety and desire, because our survival depended them. Computer screens became our mode of contact with friends and family, and films, music and books became our closest companions in these moments of loneliness.  We looked for beauty in them, they helped us to touch our deepest emotions. We realized how difficult it was to be an actor, a visual artist, a musician or an athlete without an audience, because we also missed the direct experience of being in the company of others. Many of us then realized how difficult it is to be a teacher, because we had to become one for long months."

According to the president, it also became obvious how compassionate, grandiose and self-sacrificing we can be and that the potential for solidarity in Slovakia is greater than we sometimes think. "I would like to thank every one of you, who by your dedication has contributed to the common good. Who has worked responsibly every single day for yourselves, for your family and friends, for your community, region and for Slovakia."

The president emphasized that the decorated personalities fought for freedom, contributed to the establishment of important democratic institutions and cared for these institutions to ensure that they fulfilled their purpose. Fellow citizens who exerted maximum effort to attain the highest possible level in their area of interest, in their occupation or profession and proudly represented Slovakia. People, whose work has made the lives of others better, more bearable, more colourful and richer. "We meet here today to celebrate creativity, endurance, intellect and the unbreakable spirit of humanity. Your work helps us to embrace beauty, provides answers to complicated issues of our times, share the experience of perfection and overcoming human limits. It creates feelings of pride in us. Today we show our respect to those who have secured their firm place in society on many value-related crossroads and have affected several generations by their standpoints in life. The lives of every one of the individuals decorated today have been inspiring for all of us." 

List of decorated personalities: 

• Sándor Beke, Medal of the President of the Slovak Republic, for his significant contribution to the development of the Slovak Republic in the field of art and culture 
• Jaroslav Budz, Milan Rastislav Štefánik Cross, 1st class, in memoriam, for risking his own life to save the lives of others 
• Pavol Čekan, Ľudovít Štúr Order 2nd class, for his outstanding work in the field of science, particularly in the development and manufacturing of tests for the SARS-CoV-2 virus
• Pavol Demitra, Ľudovít Štúr Order 1st class, in memoriam, for his outstanding achievements in the field of sports and for spreading the good name of the Slovak Republic abroad 
• Vladimír Godár, Ľudovít Štúr Order 3rd class, for his outstanding contribution to the development of the Slovak Republic in the field of culture and art and for significantly spreading the good name of the Slovak Republic abroad
• Agnieszka Holland, Medal of the President of the Slovak Republic, for her significant contribution to the development of the Slovak Republic in the field of culture and art  
• Agnesa Horváthová, Pribina Cross 3rd class, for her outstanding contribution to the social development of the Slovak Republic   
• Zdeno Chára, Ľudovít Štúr Order 2nd class, for his outstanding achievements in the field of sports and for significantly spreading the good name of the Slovak Republic abroad
• Rudolf Chmel, Ľudovít Štúr Order 1st class, for his outstanding contribution to democracy and its development, human rights and freedom and their defence
• Vasiľ Jabur, Pribina Cross 3rd class, for his outstanding contribution to the cultural development of the Slovak Republic and for the codification of the Ruthenian language 
• Helena Jurasovová, Pribina Cross 2nd class, for her outstanding lifelong contribution to the cultural development of the Slovak Republic, particularly for her artistic and educational activities in the field of children’s folk staging 
• Kristína Križanová, Pribina Cross 3rd class, for her outstanding contribution to the social development of the Slovak Republic 
• Ivan Leitman, Pribina Cross 3rd class, for his outstanding contribution to the social development of the Slovak Republic
• Vladimír Michal, Pribina Cross 3rd class, for his outstanding contribution to the cultural development of the Slovak Republic
• Hilda Múdra, Ľudovít Štúr Order 1st class, for her outstanding achievements in the field of sports and for significantly spreading the good name of the Slovak Republic abroad
• Chaviva Reicková, Ľudovít Štúr Order 3rd class, in memoriam, for her outstanding contribution to democracy and its development, human rights and freedom and their defence   
• Pavel Rychetský, Order of the White Double Cross 3rd class, for his outstanding contribution to the development of relations between the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, particularly in the field of law and constitutional judiciary 
• Anna Šestáková, Ľudovít Štúr Order 3rd class, for her outstanding contribution to democracy and its development, human rights and freedom and their defence   
• Magdaléna Špotáková, Ľudovít Štúr Order 3rd class, for her outstanding contribution to the development of the Slovak Republic in the social field, particularly in the field of psychological care for families with disabled children and from socially disadvantaged environments  
• Ivan Štrpka, Pribina Cross 2nd class, for his outstanding contribution to the cultural development of the Slovak Republic  
• Milan Šútovec, Ľudovít Štúr Order 3rd class, for his outstanding contribution to democracy and its development, human rights and freedom and their defence 
• Károly Tóth, Ľudovít Štúr Order 3rd class, in memoriam, for his outstanding contribution to democracy and its development, human rights and freedom and their defence, and for the support of inter-ethnic and intercultural understanding 
• Dezider Ursiny, Pribina Cross 2nd class, in memoriam, for his outstanding contribution to the cultural development of the Slovak Republic 
• Ján Zavarský, Pribina Cross 3rd class, for his outstanding contribution to the cultural development of the Slovak Republic