War medals

Zeringu_One

5-Year Member
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Jun 11, 2014
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While cleaning up at my great aunt's house I found all of my great uncle's WWII medals in the back of an old closet. Being the only one in the family with an interest in military history, she gave them to me. I would like to put them in a shadow box. I would like to know if they go in any certain order. He was in the 99th infantry in the battle of the bulge. He earn a bronze star and I think that deserves to be shown off, not stuck in a closet for decades.
 
They do go in a certain order. You should be able to google "Medal Order of Presidence" or something like that. Ribbons and medals have a certain order; the higher the ribbon (when worn on the left side....when your wearing it) is at the top left of the rack. When ribbons are worn on the right (because medals are on the left) the top ribbon is on the top right corner of the rack. The top medal is worn on the top left of the medals (medals are worn on the left side of the uniform). Finally, each medal has a corresponding ribbon, but not every ribbon has a medal. When you're wearing medals, you do not wear the corresponding ribbon (that has a medal) with the other ribbons. Hope that makes sense..... I know it can be confusing.
 
While cleaning up at my great aunt's house I found all of my great uncle's WWII medals in the back of an old closet. Being the only one in the family with an interest in military history, she gave them to me. I would like to put them in a shadow box. I would like to know if they go in any certain order. He was in the 99th infantry in the battle of the bulge. He earn a bronze star and I think that deserves to be shown off, not stuck in a closet for decades.

Cool! Great bit of history.

Medals and awards do, in fact, have a order of priority. I am sure you can find this information posted on the internet (sorry, I don't have the time to search right now)

There are certainly companies that professionally mount medals and service ribbons in shadow boxes. This would be another avenue for you - not sure of the cost.

Good luck!
 
Order of "Precedence" not "Presidence"

Sorry LITS - had to call you out. :shake:
 
Zering,

As stated there is an order.

I am only chiming in for a suggestion regarding the shadow box idea.

If you contact your Congressmen via letter you can request a flag to be flown on the Hill for a small cost. They will send it to you with a letter stating the date it was flown in his honor. Most shadow boxes have a triangle on top for the flag.

They usually only does this for special occurences. I.E Bullet has one from our Senator that was flown on the day he retired.

Just a guess, but if you have it flown for the anniversary of his death or birthday, that they would do it for a family member in honor of the Greatest Generation.
~ Do not read anything into it flying, basically it goes up and down within minutes to say it was flown. It is more about for you creating a shadow box as a moment I.

OBTW, if you have more than ribbons and medals, think about getting it professionally done. We have a friend that shadowboxed their leather light jacket. Bullet has 2 24x36 shadow boxes. One filled with all of his flight patches, scarves, flight helmet visors and a plaque stating his hours/tours for his career. The other with the flag, ribbons/medals and every coin.
 
If you contact your Congressmen via letter you can request a flag to be flown on the Hill for a small cost. They will send it to you with a letter stating the date it was flown in his honor. Most shadow boxes have a triangle on top for the flag.

They usually only does this for special occurences. I.E Bullet has one from our Senator that was flown on the day he retired.

Just a guess, but if you have it flown for the anniversary of his death or birthday, that they would do it for a family member in honor of the Greatest Generation.
~ Do not read anything into it flying, basically it goes up and down within minutes to say it was flown. It is more about for you creating a shadow box as a moment I.


Good point PIMA.

The flags are flown in a little area you can't really see from the ground. It's not the flag you see on the Capitol, but rather a large number of smaller flag poles basically used for the "flag flying" program.
 
Regarding professional mounting services and shadow boxes... I did a quick search on google for order of precedence instructions and saw two advertisements pop up. In other words, it could be pretty easy to find a service. I am sure if you looked at the Army Times, and other military news sources, you would find services offered.
 
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