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November 11th was originally celebrated as Armistice Day, the day on which World War I officially ended with the signing of the Armistice between the German Empire and the Allies of Great Britain, the United States, and France, among others. Today, we celebrate November 11th as Veterans’ Day, an opportunity to honor the men and women who serve and have served in our armed forces, at all levels and in all roles. It’s a day of visibility for veterans and for our armed forces as a whole. But what’s the best way to display your care for the warrior in your family?
Maybe you don’t have a member of the armed forces in your family, but there are ways to honor veterans on the 11th. This could be as simple as flying a flag outside your home, putting out poppies in remembrance, or choosing to honor the branch or deeds of a friend, mentor, or other person who matters to you.
If you have a veteran in your family, you might want to display some of the symbols they feel represent them and their time in the military. This can include uniforms, medals and ribbons, important artifacts, even weapons or gear that was brought home.
The first thing you need to decide is what you want to display and where you want to display it. Dress uniforms are likely to require a human-height storage space, like a glass case or open hanging space.
Medals and ribbons can be displayed inside a shadowbox on a wall or inside a jewelry drawer under a glass top. Particularly if medals were earned through conspicuous valor or self-sacrifice, consider including a brief description of each medal and what it was earned for.
The veteran in your family might have things that mean a lot to them that might not appear relevant to their service at first glance. This could be something they were given while deployed, something they made in basic, even special gifts they were sent while they were away from home. These should be displayed however you feel is appropriate, keeping in mind what it means to the vet.
Webgear, helmets, vests, and fatigues can be displayed as individual pieces or all together to show what the veteran wore during work. You could create a cover display, showing off the different headwear they wore during their tour. Helmets and boots are both common symbols of service and can be displayed easily without taking up too much space.
Before choosing to display a firearm, take a moment and consider what the firearm means both to the veteran and to your family. If in doubt, choosing to display ceremonial weapons is a safer bet. Sabers and handguns have historically been marks of rank, and are therefore excellent display pieces.
The most important aspect of honoring a veteran is respect. It’s most important to respect the veteran’s story and how they want it to be told. You should avoid putting the branch, rank, or job above the individual who served, and even a family member might surprise you with how they want their service to be remembered.
We recommend asking the veteran directly about this, especially if they’re older. Warriors can be private people, so don’t take it personally if they don’t want to talk much, but give them the chance to tell you their story. You can tell them what your plan is, that you would like to honor them in your home, and ask them how they would like that to be done. If they don’t live in your home, they might have some artefacts or other items they would like you to display, either because they don’t have the space in their own home or simply because they want you to have it.
Custom Means Unique
Of course, if honoring the veterans in your life is something you’d like to do year round, we recommend having a custom display built. What’s amazing about choosing custom is that, like their story, this display will be as unique as the person you’re honoring. Place it wherever is best for your home, whether that be near the front of the house to display it prominently, or in a more private area of the home, such as the bedroom, an office, or even the veteran’s closet. Even better, any of these rooms can be designed as a fully custom space for the veteran in your family, and it makes an incredible gift for any occasion.
