Wear your Medals and those of deceased relatives

[Douglas J Schrack]

The Veterans Administration Secretary has called on America's 24 million veterans to wear their military medals on Veterans Day, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Family members and descendants of veterans are also invited to wear the medals of their deceased veteran relatives to honor their service and memory.
Memo on the 8th A.F. News bulletin board.

Doug

[Allan H.]

The Veterans Administration Secretary has called on America's 24 million veterans to wear their military medals on Veterans Day, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Family members and descendants of veterans are also invited to wear the medals of their deceased veteran relatives to honor their service and memory.
Memo on the 8th A.F. News bulletin board.

Doug

Doug,
This is interesting. I am assuming that wear would be in the form of miniatures? Also, how would someone go about the process of wearing a family members' medals? I mean, I have an ancestor who received the MOH in the Philippines. Surely I wouldn't gop wearing his medals or facsimilies thereof!
Allan

[chippler]

I think I read something about this... a guy from the US (can't remember his name) saw one of our ANZAC day marches and was so impressed he wanted the US to follow suit.

I am assuming that you wear your relatives medals on the right side of your chest (the opposite side of the medals you earned yourself)

- Chris

[TerryG]

I am assuming that you wear your relatives medals on the right side of your chest (the opposite side of the medals you earned yourself)

- Chris

This is the way it is done in the UK by close family members and I believe is a great and moving way to honour those who have given their lives for their country.

[Douglas J Schrack]

Medals and Awards

"Medals and awards may be worn over the left breast pocket."

Doug

Further information may be found at www.va.gov.

[tgn]

Excuse me, according to the Stolen Valor Act, it is a crime for non-recipients to wear valor medals, This includes relatives...Tom

[NavyFCO]

First, I think Tom has a good point - it's against the law (punishable by jail time, etc.) for wearing medals that aren't your own. That's pretty clear cut in the law itself, even though we (as collectors) have had it made clear to us that we can still collect - just not WEAR the awards.

Second, while it might be a neat gesture, I think it would look mighty silly for me to wear my awards as well as my dad's and other's awards.

Finally, are we supposed to wear the awards of our ancestors who did not serve in the US military? We've got medals from my ancestors from various nations going all the way back to the time of Napoleon...

Dave