Why it is so expensive to find and build a shadow box with all my ribbons and medals? Are there any cheaper suggestions?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 15:45:39 -0400

Medals of America is way too rich for my blood! Waitng on St. Louis, MO. to send...taken years and no reply yet. Also need a box that like to fit everything. This is my legacy to my daughter and my local VFW post.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2018 3:47 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 15:47:20 -0400

typo... “need”... not Ned. Sorry. Autocorrect sucks!

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Sep 5 at 2018 3:56 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 15:56:16 -0400

Depends on what kind of material you use, and where you get the ribbons and medals.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2018 4:07 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 16:07:15 -0400

Too bad they didn't have the category of" r i p o f f" but they may have the category of budget

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Sep 5 at 2018 4:48 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 16:48:24 -0400

We built our own for one of our E-7's when I was on shore duty. Went to Hobby Lobby and the Exchange. I think we built the whole thing for a $150.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Sep 5 at 2018 5:03 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 17:03:00 -0400

Personalized shadow boxes are custom luxury items. Of course they're expensive. The medals and decorations alone are several hundred ( I suppose that depends on the persons career, some careers are more expensive than others). If you want cheap, go to Michaels and pick up a shadow box and some double sided Velcro.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Sep 5 at 2018 5:11 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 17:11:40 -0400

Follow up on Dt Louis. Original ap probably lost somewhere. My son and I built the shadow box together. Not to expensive, but worth it's weight in gold to both of us. Nothing says a Dad and Daughter can't do the same.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Sep 5 at 2018 5:54 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 17:54:37 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member what exactly are you trying to build? If it is full size medals, that gets pricey quickly. Minimum $12 a piece and that is the MCSS price. Then there is the labor.... My advice is to go to the nearest PX and see if they have a concessionaire there that does this. There are multiples in the Fort Carson PX. If you get desperate you can call them and see what they can do. I am told the Craft and Hobby Shop on the Air Force Academy does shadow boxes. They did a great job on my brother in law's.

Are you re-using any of the items you had/were issued? That can bring the cost down.

You might want to call the Frame Shop at Macdill's Exchange and see what they do. Perhaps they can give you a ball park quote. If that quote works out, I would recommend driving there to see what they are going to do and the layout. https://www.shopmyexchange.com/exchange-stores/United%20States/FL/Tampa/MacDill-AFB--1032125

Shop Army & Air Force Exchange Service

813 840 0511 HR Office 813-840-0601

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Sep 5 at 2018 11:30 PM

MSgt John Taylor — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 23:30:30 -0400

Simplify it! your standard AAFES ribbon rack & those items that signify your career.
I've seen boxes that would require steel girders to support it. I'm proud of my service, but my shadow box doesn't have to be a grand monument to it.

Response by 1SG Jeremy Evans made Sep 6 at 2018 3:07 PM

1SG Jeremy Evans — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 15:07:25 -0400

SFC Tolbert, Target might be worth checking out. They had some decent 15"x20" photo shadow boxes for around $30. I just removed the photo clips, covered a piece of foam board with fabric for the box and pinned everything through the foam.

Response by COL Thomas F. made Sep 6 at 2018 3:17 PM

COL Thomas F. — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 15:17:07 -0400

Go check out the Fort Leavenworth US Disciplinary Barracks store at http://www.usdbsalesstore.com Commonly known as the "prison store". They will custom make anything in wood, metal, or cloth. If you have something sketched on a napkin, they can help make it real. Decent prices too boot.

www.usdbsalesstore.com

Response by SGT Therese Anne Herlihy made Sep 8 at 2018 4:41 PM

SGT Therese Anne Herlihy — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 16:41:08 -0400

I got my medals at Medals of America & put them in a box I got at Hobby Lobby. You can also find shadow boxes at either Michael's or AC Moore.