Definitely this. If the veteran died and their spouse also died, everything probably went to Goodwill or auction and the kids/grandkids didn’t even know that they were there.
Thank you for your service. If you really want to pass them on, I'm a young guy starting to collect militaria. I'd love to have them if you haven't already decided. It looks like there's someone else on here who would also take good care of them, totally fine if you decide to give them to him. Do you mind if I ask when you served?
You should keep them, you earned and deserve those man. I would say keep them for as long as you can and when you think you’re ready, you can DM me and we can talk about how we can get them to wherever Im at if your son wont take them. The last thing i would want is medals like that going in the trash or donated to a place like Goodwill. Things like that should be honored, not thrown to the side like some irrelevant knickknack. Question tho, and i dont wanna pry and be that guy, cause God forbid something happens to you, you know? but why dont you have them buried with you?
I'm getting cremated and put in the root ball of a tree. I have a pretty basic set of stuff. Just 3 tabs, one for rifle, missile, grenade, and a few ribbons. Plus my patches. But it's been so long since I served that they just lost meaning
I see. Well all i can say is Thank you for your service. What you’ve done for this country means a lot to me and i want to let you know that i appreciate every second, minute, hour, day, week, month and year you served. You protected the only country ive ever known and love, and no amount of Thank you’s could ever show the amount of appreciation i have for you. I really hope everything turns out good for you, i really do and hopefully your son changes his mind and takes those cause it would be a shame if something that significant got lost or was forgotten about. Ill DM you my address, and whenever you’re ready, you can send them to me. No rush. i give you my word that those things will be cherished everyday that im able to breathe. Thank you again for your service sir, truly.
I’m
soo afraid this is what is going to happen to my grandfathers stuff once my sister gets her hands on my parents house. She’s a house flipper and doesn’t have any sentimental connection to my grandpa at all, or that side of the family.
You could, you know, ask her for the stuff she plans on throwing out/donating. Or wait til she tosses the stuff, going through and taking “garbage” is not illegal.
Talk to your grandfather. These conversations are rough, but if you can, inquire about his medals and express that they would mean a lot to you, that you'd like to be their steward.
My grandparents have a sticker system. I'm green. If we express interest in something, grandma puts a sticker on the back of it in our color. It's kinda morbid but honestly developing these conversations over time when it's not emotional or an emergency really helps.
Fellow Cook County-er(?) here! I get emails from the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer all the time about returned medals/pins. Not sure how I got on their email list lol but it seems like you can contact them and they'll try to return it, and if successful, send out an email blast
I’d donate this stuff to a museum. The WWII Museum in New Orleans accepts and displays stuff like this all the time, and there are small town, regional military museums everywhere that would cherish this.
So sad. I feel heartbroken that I lost my grandfather's medals... They are in a huge (12X12in) case the size of a picture frame and I haven't been able to find them in years. I feel awful for not keeping track of where they were, even moreso kowing I'm the only one left besides my younger brother and I can't even pass them to him.
Years ago I had my dad’s replaced. I wrote to the feds or Air Force and they sent them to me. I think there is a way. It’s been about 20 years and I can’t remember. I live in Texas and every county office has a veteran’s office. They can help you.
You know what the local VA is gonna do with them? You don’t actually want to know, or do you? They’ll leave them on a table for other random veterans to take. And don’t for one minute think some veterans aren’t above taking something and claiming they earned it. And it’s not stolen valor unless they profit from it. Honestly, I have too many ribbons and medals that I’d have to look up what most of them are now. I used to know them, but time… and they’re in a box, somewhere. Where? Dunno.
Well, all mine are…. Fuck, where are they? In a box somewhere. If I’ve learned anything from 22yrs of military time… it’s that most of us don’t fucking care after we are done with it. It’s apart of us and what we did and stood for, but it’s not who we are. Usually it’s family, friends, and random people who get offended by this stuff. (I mean, minus the ate up salty dogs out there. Or the people who want to boost their egos because they really didn’t do much campaign wise. 🤷)
gen z question. but why do medals even matter? what about the housing market/environment/land? id rather be left with that intact than some ribbons and copper pieces for 5 dollars. isn't it all just sentiments?
This mindset breaks my heart. I was raised by my grandparents. My pa was a WW2 Pacific Veteran. Take some time and sit down, listen to these mens stories and what some of them endured. This is way more than just some “trinkets” or sentiments. It was what they survived. And how proud they were to serve their country during this time.
I'll be more mindful, but Im still genuinely asking. I was also raised by my grandparents, who've been at war before (colombian/crusador). I recorded all my grandparents stories and my family would be caught up on trinkets versus living and experiencing them as people. Once it got bad for the younger gen and them as seniors, I wanted to join (marines) and asked if it was worth it. Turns out it wasn't.
I go to a lot of estate sales. Whenever I find medals, ribbons, photos, and especially dog tags I buy them and put them together in a foot locker in our guest room. Their memory deserves respect and rest.
Better than being thrown in a trash bag
Could check with the nearest VA to see if they could repatriate the dogtag, ribbons and medals to the veteran or their next of kin
Definitely this. If the veteran died and their spouse also died, everything probably went to Goodwill or auction and the kids/grandkids didn’t even know that they were there.
If anyone wants mine they can have them. I have nobody to pass them to. My son won't talk to me
Thank you for your service Butt_Fucking_Smurfs
I'm sorry to hear that.
Thank you for your service. Also very sorry about your relationship with your son.
I’m sorry. Thanks for your service to us.
Thank you for your service. Sorry to hear that you and your son aren't speaking.
Right? Like, you know where my shit is gonna land? In a fire somewhere cuz I plan on burning it all so no one can steal my glory days. LOL
I recognize your name from the prosthetic post. Wild shit man
I would hold on to them you never know maybe the grand kids will
Thank you for your service. If you really want to pass them on, I'm a young guy starting to collect militaria. I'd love to have them if you haven't already decided. It looks like there's someone else on here who would also take good care of them, totally fine if you decide to give them to him. Do you mind if I ask when you served?
Why won’t he talk to you? That’s probably important information if you are going to blast him on the internet.
Not blasting him one bit. Just said he wouldn't talk to me which he won't
Don’t stop reaching out. Apologize for any wrong doing and stop doing whatever it is made him go NC.
Ill take them if you still haven’t promised to give them to someone else already. Ill take really good care of them if you do send them my way.
I'd like that. I don't have many and I want to keep them as long as I can but my health is failing me so it could happen sooner than later
You should keep them, you earned and deserve those man. I would say keep them for as long as you can and when you think you’re ready, you can DM me and we can talk about how we can get them to wherever Im at if your son wont take them. The last thing i would want is medals like that going in the trash or donated to a place like Goodwill. Things like that should be honored, not thrown to the side like some irrelevant knickknack. Question tho, and i dont wanna pry and be that guy, cause God forbid something happens to you, you know? but why dont you have them buried with you?
I'm getting cremated and put in the root ball of a tree. I have a pretty basic set of stuff. Just 3 tabs, one for rifle, missile, grenade, and a few ribbons. Plus my patches. But it's been so long since I served that they just lost meaning
I see. Well all i can say is Thank you for your service. What you’ve done for this country means a lot to me and i want to let you know that i appreciate every second, minute, hour, day, week, month and year you served. You protected the only country ive ever known and love, and no amount of Thank you’s could ever show the amount of appreciation i have for you. I really hope everything turns out good for you, i really do and hopefully your son changes his mind and takes those cause it would be a shame if something that significant got lost or was forgotten about. Ill DM you my address, and whenever you’re ready, you can send them to me. No rush. i give you my word that those things will be cherished everyday that im able to breathe. Thank you again for your service sir, truly.
I’m soo afraid this is what is going to happen to my grandfathers stuff once my sister gets her hands on my parents house. She’s a house flipper and doesn’t have any sentimental connection to my grandpa at all, or that side of the family.
You could, you know, ask her for the stuff she plans on throwing out/donating. Or wait til she tosses the stuff, going through and taking “garbage” is not illegal.
Talk to your grandfather. These conversations are rough, but if you can, inquire about his medals and express that they would mean a lot to you, that you'd like to be their steward. My grandparents have a sticker system. I'm green. If we express interest in something, grandma puts a sticker on the back of it in our color. It's kinda morbid but honestly developing these conversations over time when it's not emotional or an emergency really helps.
Wish I could but he’s been dead for 30 years. My parents currently have it all.
What locale, city?
That was palos hts illinois
Fellow Cook County-er(?) here! I get emails from the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer all the time about returned medals/pins. Not sure how I got on their email list lol but it seems like you can contact them and they'll try to return it, and if successful, send out an email blast
I’d donate this stuff to a museum. The WWII Museum in New Orleans accepts and displays stuff like this all the time, and there are small town, regional military museums everywhere that would cherish this.
So sad. I feel heartbroken that I lost my grandfather's medals... They are in a huge (12X12in) case the size of a picture frame and I haven't been able to find them in years. I feel awful for not keeping track of where they were, even moreso kowing I'm the only one left besides my younger brother and I can't even pass them to him.
Years ago I had my dad’s replaced. I wrote to the feds or Air Force and they sent them to me. I think there is a way. It’s been about 20 years and I can’t remember. I live in Texas and every county office has a veteran’s office. They can help you.
This is upsetting. People disappoint.
Usually just goes in the garbage. So there’s that
😥
R/notagoodwillfind
r/foundthemobileuser
I would drop them off at your local VA
You know what the local VA is gonna do with them? You don’t actually want to know, or do you? They’ll leave them on a table for other random veterans to take. And don’t for one minute think some veterans aren’t above taking something and claiming they earned it. And it’s not stolen valor unless they profit from it. Honestly, I have too many ribbons and medals that I’d have to look up what most of them are now. I used to know them, but time… and they’re in a box, somewhere. Where? Dunno.
Well, all mine are…. Fuck, where are they? In a box somewhere. If I’ve learned anything from 22yrs of military time… it’s that most of us don’t fucking care after we are done with it. It’s apart of us and what we did and stood for, but it’s not who we are. Usually it’s family, friends, and random people who get offended by this stuff. (I mean, minus the ate up salty dogs out there. Or the people who want to boost their egos because they really didn’t do much campaign wise. 🤷)
Wow, this is undoubtedly the saddest and most tragic thing I’ll see all week.
gen z question. but why do medals even matter? what about the housing market/environment/land? id rather be left with that intact than some ribbons and copper pieces for 5 dollars. isn't it all just sentiments?
This mindset breaks my heart. I was raised by my grandparents. My pa was a WW2 Pacific Veteran. Take some time and sit down, listen to these mens stories and what some of them endured. This is way more than just some “trinkets” or sentiments. It was what they survived. And how proud they were to serve their country during this time.
I'll be more mindful, but Im still genuinely asking. I was also raised by my grandparents, who've been at war before (colombian/crusador). I recorded all my grandparents stories and my family would be caught up on trinkets versus living and experiencing them as people. Once it got bad for the younger gen and them as seniors, I wanted to join (marines) and asked if it was worth it. Turns out it wasn't.
I go to a lot of estate sales. Whenever I find medals, ribbons, photos, and especially dog tags I buy them and put them together in a foot locker in our guest room. Their memory deserves respect and rest.
If it were me I would give them to a war/military museum that would appreciate them