Posted on Apr 25, 2016
Do Your Awards Still Mean Something To You After Leaving The Service?
39.8K
170
92
24
24
0
When I served in the Army, my medals and awards were a sense of pride for me. Now that I am retired, they are simply some colored ribbons that I have in a display case in the den. I don't hold the same pride I had in them as when I was in the service. Do you believe that medals and awards only hold the pride that you assign them? Do you still feel pride in them now that you are out of the service?
Awards
Medals
ETS/EAS
Retirement
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 74
4
4
0
Awards never really meant a lot to me during my career, I saw a lot of awards degraded due to people having to be in a position, certain rank, or so on, we all saw it. I take pride in the accomplishments that I left behind that are still evident. My Soldiers and NCOs that still serve tell me thank you and continue to advance and be better than I was. I can ask no more than that!
(4)
(0)
MSG Anthony DiFondi I have a shadow box that contains my ribbons and medals and my fathers pilot wings, name tag, and dog tags. These items and a mounted picture are the only items that I have of my father who served in Korea and WWII. When I look at the box, it reminds me of my father who was killed in a training accident crash when I was seven years old. When I look at my items, I am reminded of several close friends that were killed, and members of my former unit that have died since. Looking at the box brings me comfort, pain, and pride. My shadow box means a great deal to me.
(4)
(0)
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
Ted, All we have are memories and hopes for tomorrow. W/o respect for yesteryear, where would we be? Sgt (Join to see)
(1)
(0)
The ribbons and awards are not meaningless but they don't carry nearly the same weight as then had when I was still in. When we de-mobbed after OIF, we were all given a flag in a case with our name and rank on it. That's probably the best thing I ever got from my service and its the only thing from my service displayed in the house.
(3)
(0)
SFC Rob Hawkins
I received something similar with a flag in a case, and it sits proudly on my entertainment center.
(0)
(0)
3
3
0
I do. They represent the fact that someone cared enough about what I was doing to take the time and put me in for them.
Each one also represents the hard work, accomplishments, and fact that my Soldiers were disciplined enough to draw the attention of someone.
I owe my stripes and medals to my Soldiers and that's what I think of when I see them on my wall display. If they hadn't followed well and supported the program I wouldn't have gotten them.
My badges on the other hand, I earned through my effort, skill and competition against the Army standard. So I'm proud of those because I made the cut.
Each one also represents the hard work, accomplishments, and fact that my Soldiers were disciplined enough to draw the attention of someone.
I owe my stripes and medals to my Soldiers and that's what I think of when I see them on my wall display. If they hadn't followed well and supported the program I wouldn't have gotten them.
My badges on the other hand, I earned through my effort, skill and competition against the Army standard. So I'm proud of those because I made the cut.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
I am very proud of the time I served and would do it again. Each medal and ribbon from the lowest to the highest have special meaning and I honor the people that thought that I was deserving of them.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
Many of my citations hang in my shop. When I look up at them I remember the events leading to the awards. Maybe some day I will get off my ass and make a shadow box and hang the medals. Yes I'm proud of them, the things I've done the people I served with.
(3)
(0)
2
2
0
Like many people I have framed my awards with relation to different assignments/deployments. They are attractive enough displays that my wife wanted to hang them throughout the house rather than in one room. My source of pride comes from 10 year old son or friends who have not served who ask me about each one
(2)
(0)
CH (MAJ) (Join to see)
I am still serving on Active Duty so I do not have things up at home on display. However, my Godkids enjoy asking about the different medals, ribbons, and patches. I am also active with the Civil Air Patrol (been in that group since I was a teenager). Though I do not wear all my military awards in the CAP uniform, the Cadets always have fun trying to figure them out. Especially my years of service as I will wear my Good Conduct (3 clasps), ARCAM (2OLC), and National Defense (1BSS) just to see the cadets look at me and mentally do the math! Along with the looks as I have an Air Force Achievement Medal and a Joint Commendation. Both my Godkids and the Cadets are my source of pride. Though a cadet did "gig" me as I forgot to switch the positions of my AAM and AFAM on the Air Force style CAP uniform. He got a coin for that!
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
MSG Anthony DiFondi Great query. When I received a MSM as a retirement award, I was rather impressed. Now, when I read of green hornets and other awards being common place, I think; Gee Whiz, I didn't receive much of an award!
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
i agree the medals lost their luster. I think all the reminders I have of my service are the good and bad memories.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I think that some of the luster is gone now that they're no peers around to appreciate them like I did.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google