What do you think about all those non-official medals now for sale? Newest one is Honorable Discharge....

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 16:39:05 -0400

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2014 7:30 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 19:30:10 -0400

SGM Private RallyPoint Member, I think they're a good way for some company (or companies) to make a few bucks off veterans. Unnecessary. We have the official lapel pins to wear, after all:

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/army-announces-new-veteran-lapel-pins

Army announces new veteran lapel pins | RallyPoint

I checked out this quarter's Army Echoes and found this news about new lapel pins for veterans and retirees. We're "Soldiers for life," which I think is just right. And I like the new lapel pin as well, but my favorite retiree pin was the green and gold one. What do you think of these new insignia for retirees and vets? Here's a link to the Army Echoes newsletter:...

Response by SFC Boots Attaway made Oct 24 at 2014 7:53 PM

SFC Boots Attaway — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 19:53:17 -0400

I like some of the commemorative medals like the Cold War one as all I ever got was a certificate.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2014 8:16 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 20:16:03 -0400

With the exception of the Cold War one, I am good thanks, got the real ones issued to me. I don't need a commercialized commemorative medal to commemorate something I already have. Commercialism to the extreme.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2014 8:20 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 20:20:42 -0400

There's always a guy selling stuff like this in the VAMC in Oklahoma City. They set up in the cafeteria and bilk the DV's of their hard earned fundage. You can get anything from that medal there up to a cavalry hat covered in pins. Personally I can't see much use for medals after you're out except to fill a shadow box in your den. Mine are in a box at the back of my closet with a Dress Blue Uniform about 4 sizes too small!

Response by SGT Richard H. made Oct 24 at 2014 8:34 PM

SGT Richard H. — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 20:34:09 -0400

Most (maybe all) of them seem silly to me. I posted a thread on this a while back and pretty much saw the same consensus (silly)

Response by SSG Keith Cashion made Jun 26 at 2015 4:47 PM

SSG Keith Cashion — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 16:47:05 -0400

I think one of the issues it also inspires some of these people that will look for ways to pretend and actually end up committing Stolen Valor offenses. I find it interesting watching the videos of these types of people and the fact that even though they get caught, most have no remorse, and continue to do it. I watch several videos the other day of the same guy getting caught on three different occasions within two weeks. We have the law, but rarely enforced. Comes down to...to much money to prosecute. We have a law about disrespecting the American Flag, it makes news, pisses off a lot of Veterans, but the offenders are not prosecuted. Oooopppsss...rambling.

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Nov 7 at 2015 12:48 AM

MAJ Alvin B. — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 00:48:51 -0500

I think that if you do some research you will discover they have been around for quite some time. While there are a great many commercially produced commemorative medals, there are also many officially produced commemorative medals as well (e.g. DoD WW II 50th Anniversary Medal, etc...).

The first medal for the Spanish-American War was a commemorative medal designed by (and if memory serves - paid for) by Teddy Roosevelt for the 1st USV after the US Government refused to authorize a medal for the veterans of the war. Later as President, he then ordered the War Department to create service and campaign medals for every conflict from the American Revolution up to that time. That tradition continues to this day, including the occasional refusal to recognize such service (e.g. Cold War, etc...).

If someone wants a to wear a commemorative I have no issue with it.

Response by SGT Daniel Rocco Ames made Jun 10 at 2018 3:44 PM

SGT Daniel Rocco Ames — Sun, 10 Jun 2018 15:44:25 -0400

I've never even heard of this ribbon. Most vets, to include myself stick to mini badges on a hat (or PH, Bronze/Silver Star pins, etc) or lapel pins on their highest award. Why buy a ribbon that says what your CIB/CAB or even hat says? Sounds to me like some candy chasers want to fatten their racks.

Response by PO1 Don Baer made Jul 23 at 2018 8:38 PM

PO1 Don Baer — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 20:38:51 -0400

DUMB if you have the paper Honorable Discharge and it says Honorable on your DD-214 that should be all you need. I think all of these phony medal take away from the real medals that were rightfully earned.

Response by PFC Jimmie Cueva made Aug 16 at 2019 4:12 AM

PFC Jimmie Cueva — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 04:12:26 -0400

It's a great reminder of the many lonely nights and days I spent away from the states, serving and honoring this country.

Response by SPC Angela Burnham made Aug 16 at 2019 8:18 AM

SPC Angela Burnham — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 08:18:27 -0400

Seems like people who are just trying to give themselves pats on the back are buying them and just slapping them on anything they want to. I know I earned every medal I was ever issued, couldn't imagine seeing myself wearing one of these.

Response by SPC Marty Kukol made Jun 21 at 2020 8:59 PM

SPC Marty Kukol — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 20:59:29 -0400

If it ain’t issued, then it’s not to be worn! Waste of money.