Posted on Oct 22, 2015
Would you donate military memorabilia to your local VA if they would display it?
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Would you contribute from your personal items or have your unit contribute items for display? I have included some pics.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Medals
Ribbons
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 21
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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.
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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.
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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.
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MSgt Wayne Morris
Actually how would one find out if a museum was interested? I have something I would consider donating to the USMC museum if they were interested. It is an enameled napkin ring (yes napkin ring) from an old China Marine that has been in the family for years. I have researched the name on it and if I am correct he is buried at Arlington, won a Silver Star in France during WWI. I also found out they were going to boot him for lying about his age enlisting but had such a good record they allowed him to stay in. I also found a GAO (if I recall correctly) record where he appealed a non payment of $1 or so for something and won the argument. He was friends with my great grandparents, ate dinner at there house every night (after retirement) and never married. As I am getting up there would not want this to end up in some junk shop.
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CPT Topher Murphy
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
It would have to be a tiny space.
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SGM Robin Johnson
Hilarious. I had a break in active duty during which time my mother saw a box of trophies and awards. She kept asking why I didn't have them up anywhere, so when I moved into an apartment with a tiny linen closet that I didn't use, I put all my stuff up on the shelves and when she came over I took her over and opened the door so she could see. Hidden display just for Mumsy.
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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.
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CPT Topher Murphy
I asked the question because I know that most VA's don't have any military themed items but are rather boring "4 white walls"
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CAPT Kevin B.
CPT Topher Murphy sounds like some of our military artists should be allowed to do some murals, etc. I can't remember a command I was in that didn't have the "Duty Picasso". VA can review/approve the concept.
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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.
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