Here’s what I’m leaning toward as far as placement: https://vimeo.com/515582857
It works fairly well.
That said, it would work far better if someone were to paint out the medal altogether. I don’t get the connection between the medal and Ben at all, other than it’s just Leia reminiscing about her past. But even then I feel like it cheapens the moment since it would then feel like she’s not focused solely on Ben.
It’s just weird.
The medal insert shot isn’t in the theatrical version at all. Leia’s just magically holding it when she loses the will to live. Off screen, Maz pries it from Leia’s not-yet-cold fingers before rigor mortis sets in, and then she gives it to Chewie at the end of the movie, like, “Hey, Sexy. I know you’ve been moping for the past 30 years about not getting a medal. You can have this one - it’s only slightly used.”
If it were up to me, I’d cut it from the film entirely - from Leia and Chewie both - as the pandering fan service that it is; but as long as the general consensus is that Chewie should get the damn thing, I agree with Hal that it makes sense to set it up ahead of time.
God, this movie sucks.