Would you donate military memorabilia to your local VA if they would display it?

CPT Topher Murphy — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 12:58:34 -0400

Would you contribute from your personal items or have your unit contribute items for display? I have included some pics.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 1:01 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 13:01:37 -0400

Yes, I already donated to the state Vets museum

Response by Lt Col Timothy Parker, DBA made Oct 22 at 2015 1:22 PM

Lt Col Timothy Parker, DBA — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 13:22:26 -0400

Yes, but only on loan. Some of my stuff relates to doing international work (with the UN, NATO and the former USSR) and I'd like my kids to retain possession.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 22 at 2015 1:45 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 13:45:46 -0400

Absolutely. I have some Iraq stuff just laying in a box. I inherited a WWII bible that was issued to the troops that I donated for the Chaplains school. Some things have to be appreciated for their historical value and not just belong to one person. As far as my military stuff, I have nothing special that deserves/needs to be displayed.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Oct 22 at 2015 1:48 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 13:48:31 -0400

No. One of the Marine museums probably. I have quite a bit of stuff from RVN, including rare ROKMC items and a captured SKS that I went to a lot of trouble to bring home through the Provost Marshals office.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 1:53 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 13:53:10 -0400

I have my items along with my father's. I will probably keep some items in the family, and donate the rest to a military museum.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Oct 22 at 2015 2:07 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 14:07:59 -0400

Not my personal things but I have accumulated memorabilia that would be happy to share

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Oct 22 at 2015 2:08 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 14:08:48 -0400

This is tricky.

I think about things that just don'tr exist anymore. Or won't exist in 10-15 years. I know it sounds silly, but MCI Certificates. My kid isn't going to care about that. Nor should he. But those are "historical documents" which I doubt will even exist in the future.

I think I read here that USAF doesn't even do promotion warrants anymore, at least at the lower ranks (I may be mistaken).

When you think about those or Shellback Certificates, or just oddball stuff, I'd love to know they still exist "somewhere" 50 years from now. I know my grandkids aren't going to display them. I have too much crap to display all my stuff.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 2:20 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 14:20:43 -0400

Sounds kind of egotistic to me. I would only do it if they asked. I am sure there is way more qualified hero's than myself to be on there wall.

Response by PO1 Matthew Maxon made Oct 22 at 2015 2:34 PM

PO1 Matthew Maxon — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 14:34:07 -0400

I am not really special. Just a retired EN1 who spent a few years on ships and got shot at once by an RPG. I am sure there are people who are more highly decorated then I. I might redo my certificates from Tiffany Publishing someday but would my descendants want to display all that crap? Who knows. If I had an extra Shadow Box and they wanted it up, then sure why not.

Response by CPT Topher Murphy made Oct 22 at 2015 3:16 PM

CPT Topher Murphy — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 15:16:02 -0400

I'm just curious in a theoretical sense. When the discussion of monetary waste on art/decorations occurs I wondered if Vets would donate items. I agree with not donating things that have special meaning and may have historical/familial significance in the future. However I'd donate a variety of coins, patches, etc. if my VA would actually display them.

Response by SrA Kevin Ridenhour made Oct 22 at 2015 5:03 PM

SrA Kevin Ridenhour — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 17:03:43 -0400

Not the VA. Maybe if they ever get their act together.

Response by SPC William Rivenburgh made Oct 22 at 2015 5:12 PM

SPC William Rivenburgh — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 17:12:06 -0400

Yes

Response by TSgt David L. made Oct 23 at 2015 1:29 AM

TSgt David L. — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 01:29:01 -0400

Yes, but like what Lt Col Timothy Parker, DBA said, only on a loaner basis so my kids had them.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Oct 23 at 2015 1:46 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 01:46:09 -0400

Wrong place. If anything is donated, it should go to where the general public can see, appreciate, and put it in context with the military service. Museums, town hall displays, etc. are good choices. Putting something where only military types ever see it isn't particularly productive. I have some stuff donated to the Seabee Museum from my Antarctica days. They get a lot of public visitors.

Response by CDR Michael Goldschmidt made Oct 23 at 2015 8:59 AM

CDR Michael Goldschmidt — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 08:59:40 -0400

I won't give anything to any agency of the government I don't have to.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 24 at 2015 4:43 PM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 16:43:39 -0400

Yes I would. I have some old Blue Jackets manuals (issued to all Navy recruits) dating back as far as 1914 that are just sitting on my bookshelf. I'm sure some old salts would appreciate seeing them.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Oct 24 at 2015 9:27 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 21:27:50 -0400

Not sure where they would display my memorabilia. Broom closet at the end of the hall perhaps?

It would have to be a tiny space.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2015 6:30 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 18:30:57 -0400

The awards and decorations that I received belong to the public, not me. I would be happy to give them back if asked.

Response by SMSgt David A Asbury made Oct 28 at 2015 9:39 PM

SMSgt David A Asbury — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 21:39:26 -0400

I would give it to them depending if they wanted it for a constant display or loan is it was on a once a year display.

Response by SP5 Joel McDargh made Oct 29 at 2015 1:12 AM

SP5 Joel McDargh — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 01:12:15 -0400

Can't say that I would as I do not believe they have the best interest of the veterans at heart.

Response by SGM Robin Johnson made Nov 6 at 2015 2:11 PM

SGM Robin Johnson — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 14:11:30 -0500

My family would have rights of refusal, or right to add the condition of a loan so they could reclaim things they wanted, but sure. Not that I have a lot of real value or interest, a few racks of coins and some old uniforms, a lot of field gear (I bought my own so I had all the toys and could get stuff that fit) and photos mainly. I wish I had kept all my uniforms through the many changes, since I came in Feb 1980, during the era of slime greens and old fatigues (still some female fatigues). I see the different uniforms roll out at military balls and think "wore that, wore that, wore that...." Had I known the museums would need them I would have kept mine for them. I cut the fatigue pants off for shorts, but I couldn't throw the slime greens, old beret, or that hideous turtleneck in the trash far or fast enough!