The governor is hereby authorized, upon recommendation of the adjutant general of Missouri, to present, in the name of the state of Missouri, the order of the minuteman award. The order of the minuteman award shall be awarded to those individuals, military or civilian, who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious services and achievements to the state of Missouri or the Missouri National Guard and the office of the adjutant general. The order of the minuteman award shall consist of a medal, ribbon, lapel pin, and citation or plaque. The order of the minuteman award is the only state military decoration to be worn around the neck rather than pinned to a uniform. Not more than one order of the minuteman award shall be awarded or presented under the provisions of this section to any one person and no more than five order of the minuteman awards shall be issued in a calendar year. In the event of the death of any person who would be entitled to the order of the minuteman award, the same may be presented to the surviving primary next of kin. The order of the minuteman award, ribbon, lapel pin, certificate, and plaque shall be of such form and design as determined by the adjutant general of the state.