The Medal of Darius and Girenas was instituted in 1933 to commemorate the flight across The Atlantic of pilots Steponas Darius and Stasys Girenas and to honour persons for contribution to aviation in Lithuania.

The veterans of the Lithuanian Air Force and civil aviation were the first to receive this Medal. The first group of recipients of the Medal includes a renowned master of stunt flying Jurgis Kairys. The Medal of Darius and Girenas was awarded to 79 persons.

The Medal was designed by sculptor Garska. The badges of the Medal are struck at the Mint of Lithuania. The first ribbons were made at the Lithuanian Textiles Institute and at present they are manufactured by the Danish Company "Morch & Sons".