Do Your Awards Still Mean Something To You After Leaving The Service?

I am not proud of the medals themselves. I am proud of the service, dedication, teams I served with, and sacrifice they represent. I'm also reminded that good leaders recognize the actions of others, by them.

MSG Anthony DiFondi ROGER THAT. Now that I am retired I am proud of all my medals in order with the utmost respect and honor. I am honored to have earned these prestigious medals. I have a lot more, these are my best.

Drill Sergeant Identification Badge
French Commando Badge
Parachutist Badge
Combat Action Badge

I do. I feel an immense sense of pride when I look at my shadow box and remember all the blood, sweat, and tears it took to earn mine.

There's definitely some pride I feel when I look at mine, but never as much as when someone asks what they mean or what they are for and takes the time to listen to you tell them. It's a pretty cool feeling to see the look on the face of your child or your neice, nephew, friend, or whoever when they start hearing that and realizing that a soldier isn't just some guy that marches around and scrubs garbage cans.

My medals and awards not that many really only did three years enlisted hang in my garage storage area I'm the only one that sees them good for the memories,but do take a little extra pride in the CIB that reminds me of my brothers from a long time ago

That would be very loud "HELL YES", my thoughts will never change about seeing a single ribbon or a chest full. Must be different for other Services , most of the retired Marines that I know have them in their office, or over their fire place in a position where it's the focal point of the room. Now we don't go around bragging on what awards we have, that is not the Marine way.

Fantastic topic! Thanks.
I am proud, not of the awards, but of the unique opportunities I had. In my view, my awards were mostly for "being there" and doing what I figured needed to be done. In fact, the best things I did, the things that I'm proud of, that saved lives or solved real problems, were rarely recognized at all.
But sitting next to me, closer than my coffee, is a large wooden plaque holding my father's medals. I made it when he was in Vietnam. The Bronze Star with V, Purple Heart, POW medal, CIB, and medals from WWII, Korea, and VN. He lived in a VA Alzheimer's ward for five years before he died. I think a few people might want to read about his real life in the Army, so I am writing his biography.
My own awards are just reminders of adventures from my glory days. Maybe some day I'll display them. My ribbons are in a drawer, at the ready. My certificates and team photos are in a file, being organized. I live alone, retired, so I don't anticipate showing them off anytime soon. I also have wooden model planes that I also hope to show off someday. Each one was custom made to represent a particular aircraft from one of my "war" stories. My advice, during your service, shoot photos EVERYWHERE you go. Date them and note the names of the people you know. You'll be happy you did.

Now I didn't have the pleasure to serve as long as most veterans, but I am still just as proud of the ribbons and medals I was awarded. Enlisting with the Marines was the hardest thing I've done with my life and every little achievement was a personal victory against the naysayers who didn't believe in me. Even today I cherish all the little pieces of my time in the service and hope to share them with my girls someday to show them anything is possible with determination.

Im still active and all of my awards bring me some sort of pride....but the one that means the most to me besides my AGCMs is an AAM that my ncoic recommended me for when i was a young E6 at 10th BSB at Fort Drum NY. I was just doing what i love to do, which is helping Soldiers the best way i know how. I didn't realize the impact I made until it was presented to me.

I'm very proud of my accomplishments while I was in the Army and especially Vietnam. I am proud of the badges and medals I earned. Whenever I look at them I am reminded there is a story behind each one. I want my grandchildren to know what I did and why.

Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award
Aviation Badge (Basic)
Bronze Star With "V"
Air Medal (Pre -1968)Air Medal (Pre -1968)Air Medal (Pre -1968) Army Commendation Medal Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Parachutist (Basic)
Rifle
Auto Rifle
Machine Gun
Army Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation