Posted on Sep 5, 2018
Why it is so expensive to find and build a shadow box with all my ribbons and medals? Are there any cheaper suggestions?
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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.
Military service
Ribbons
Medals
Pride
Edited 7 y ago
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 11
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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.
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Depends on what kind of material you use, and where you get the ribbons and medals.
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SFC Robert Walton
You can order what you need through the PX/BX online look up aafees. I built my own shadow box. lots of videos online that will show you how and some clubs on face book where folks with give tips and tricks.
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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.
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SFC (Join to see) 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
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
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LTC Jason Mackay
SFC (Join to see) did you use this website to request your replacement medals/decorations? The HRC address is where you need to request the update from. https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/awards-and-decorations
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SFC (Join to see)
Ty. Will try again. It took my uncle over 30 years just to get his DD214 from these civilian government idiots to respond. But as of this month...he’s finally registered at the VA ... so many years after Vietnam. But I digress, just made a parallel example.
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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.
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LTC Jason Mackay
The request starts with St Louis, but the follow up goes through Army Human Resources Command. https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/awards-and-decorations
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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.
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LT Brad McInnis
SFC (Join to see) - The Navy Exchange has an online store. Maybe you could call yours and tell them what you need. They usually bend over backwards to help. Best of luck.
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Too bad they didn't have the category of" r i p o f f" but they may have the category of budget
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SFC (Join to see)
I agree Sir. Most, if not all online sites are rip offs. And typical government ... been waitng years for RSVP on my medals and ribbons. But even IF St. Louis did send them...I still need a box to showcase.
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SP5 Peter Keane
Years ? you must not have done it correctly, 30 years for your Uncle, he damn sure didn't do it correctly.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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