{"id":19712,"date":"2026-09-14T22:36:03","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T02:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/?p=19712"},"modified":"2026-10-12T14:37:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T18:37:21","slug":"what-to-do-with-inherited-military-medals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/what-to-do-with-inherited-military-medals\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do With Inherited Military Medals"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"19712\" class=\"elementor elementor-19712\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-94a7935 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"94a7935\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e38fa0a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e38fa0a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A parent or grandparent passes away, and somewhere in the house you find a box.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inside are medals, ribbons, dog tags, old photographs, maybe a folded flag or discharge papers. Some pieces are labeled. Most aren&#8217;t. And suddenly you&#8217;re the person trying to figure out what everything means and what your family should do with it.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If that&#8217;s where you are right now, don&#8217;t start cleaning or separating anything yet.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photograph everything as you found it. Keep medals with their ribbons and devices. Set aside every piece of paperwork, even if it doesn&#8217;t look important. Then start putting the veteran&#8217;s story back together one piece at a time.<\/span><\/p><div class=\"child-site-search child-site-search-button\" style=\"text-align:center\"><a href=\"#\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"lb lb-blue search-modal-click\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"modal-fast-auto\">Find Your Frame<\/a><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start by leaving everything as you found it<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s tempting to clean things up, especially if the medals have been sitting in a drawer or box for decades. Resist that urge until you know exactly what you have.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few good first steps:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don&#8217;t polish the medals yet. Older finishes, patina, and markings can be part of the item&#8217;s history.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep medals, ribbons, and devices together. A small oak leaf cluster, star, or &#8220;V&#8221; device can change the meaning of an award.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Save every piece of paper. Citations, orders, discharge papers, letters, photographs, and handwritten notes can help identify what was earned.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take pictures before reorganizing anything. If everything was stored together for years, the original grouping may tell you something.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p>You can organize later. Right now, your goal is simply to avoid losing information.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80f8a2a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"80f8a2a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/inherited-military-medals-keepsake-box-1024x512.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-20304\" alt=\"Keepsake box with inherited military medals, discharge papers, photographs, and family mementos\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/inherited-military-medals-keepsake-box-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/inherited-military-medals-keepsake-box-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/inherited-military-medals-keepsake-box-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/inherited-military-medals-keepsake-box-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/inherited-military-medals-keepsake-box.jpg 1774w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15accf3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"15accf3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a5643c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a5643c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do you identify inherited military medals?<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start with the paperwork: a veteran&#8217;s DD Form 214, or older separation and discharge documents, may list decorations, medals, badges, citations, and campaign ribbons earned during service.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compare that list with what&#8217;s in front of you.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If something appears on the paperwork but isn&#8217;t in the box, the medal may have been lost or never physically issued. If you find a medal that isn&#8217;t listed, don&#8217;t assume it belonged to someone else. Awards can be approved later, and military records can be corrected after separation.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Look for:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DD Form 214<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DD Form 215 corrections<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Award citations<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General orders<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discharge papers<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promotion or retirement documents<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photographs showing medals or ribbons in uniform<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re trying to determine how several medals belong together, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/army-medals-order-of-precedence\/\">military medal order of precedence guide<\/a> can also help you understand the proper display order.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57c6ccd elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"57c6ccd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/inherited-military-medals-photos-documents-1024x512.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-20302\" alt=\"Inherited military medals, old photographs, dog tags, and service documents arranged on a table\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/inherited-military-medals-photos-documents-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/inherited-military-medals-photos-documents-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/inherited-military-medals-photos-documents-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/inherited-military-medals-photos-documents-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/inherited-military-medals-photos-documents.jpg 1774w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4edaa1e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4edaa1e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54df9fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"54df9fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Request the veteran&#8217;s military service record<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the paperwork is incomplete, the veteran&#8217;s military personnel record is the next place to look.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The National Archives allows eligible next of kin of deceased veterans to request military service records. For most non-archival records, that can include an un-remarried surviving spouse, parent, child, sister, or brother. Records become archival 62 years after a veteran separates from service, and different access and copying rules apply at that point.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The record may help confirm:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which medals and awards were earned<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dates of service<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Units and assignments<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Separation information<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other pieces of the veteran&#8217;s military history<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can begin through the National Archives&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.archives.gov\/veterans\/military-service-records\">Request Military Service Records<\/a> page.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If medals are missing, replacement rules depend on the service branch, the age of the record, and who is requesting them. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/how-to-replace-military-medals\/\">How to Replace Lost or Stolen Military Medals<\/a>\u00a0guide walks through that process in more detail.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do you divide one veteran&#8217;s medals among family members?<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is often the hardest part: one original group of medals, one burial flag, several children or grandchildren, and no instructions about who should receive what.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There isn&#8217;t one right answer. There are a few ways families can handle it without breaking apart the veteran&#8217;s story.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep the original medal group together<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If possible, consider keeping the original group of medals intact rather than giving one medal to each person.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Military medals often make more sense as a group. Together, they can show campaigns, accomplishments, commendations, and years of service that are difficult to understand when the pieces are scattered among several homes.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The family can choose one home for the originals and use the veteran&#8217;s service record to research replacement or reproduction options for other relatives. Because replacement rules vary by branch and record type, check the National Archives guidance before ordering anything.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/military-medal-frames\">military medal shadow box<\/a>\u00a0can also keep the group displayed together rather than leaving the medals packed away in a drawer.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ddaab94 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ddaab94\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/stacked-military-medal-displays-with-photo-1024x512.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-20306\" alt=\"Stacked military medal displays with different service medals, a framed certificate, folded flag case, and small veteran portrait\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/stacked-military-medal-displays-with-photo-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/stacked-military-medal-displays-with-photo-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/stacked-military-medal-displays-with-photo-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/stacked-military-medal-displays-with-photo-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/stacked-military-medal-displays-with-photo.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-824eb0d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"824eb0d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Divide the story, not the medal set<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another option is to share different pieces of the veteran&#8217;s history.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One family member might keep the medals. Another might have the burial flag. Someone else might receive photographs, a retirement certificate, or other documents.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each person gets something meaningful without pulling apart an original medal grouping.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And when those pieces are displayed rather than stored away, the veteran&#8217;s story can live in more than one home.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Request additional Presidential Memorial Certificates<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the veteran was eligible, family members or close friends may be able to request a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/burials-memorials\/memorial-items\/presidential-memorial-certificates\/\">Presidential Memorial Certificate<\/a> from the Department of Veterans Affairs.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is especially helpful for siblings or grandchildren who each want something connected to the veteran&#8217;s service. The VA accepts multiple requests for Presidential Memorial Certificates. The certificate bears the current President&#8217;s signature and honors the memory of an eligible deceased veteran.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That means several family members can each have a meaningful piece of the memorial rather than trying to divide one original document.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;d like to display one, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/military-memorial-gifts\/certificate-frame-471322\">Presidential Memorial Certificate frame<\/a>\u00a0gives the certificate a permanent place alongside photographs, medals, or other family keepsakes.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What about the burial flag?<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A veteran&#8217;s burial flag is different from the medals because there is normally only one.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Department of Veterans Affairs says it cannot replace a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/burials-memorials\/memorial-items\/burial-flags\/\">burial flag<\/a> that has been lost, destroyed, or stolen, although some veterans organizations may be able to help with a replacement.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your family still has the original flag, handle and store it carefully.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A burial flag is larger than an everyday 3&#8242; x 5&#8242; flag, so it also requires the correct size display case. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/what-size-is-a-burial-flag\/\">What Size Is a Burial Flag?<\/a> guide explains what to look for before choosing one.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re ready to display it, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/flag-display-cases\/flag-case-mili0302\">Memorial Honors Flag Case<\/a>\u00a0is designed specifically for a burial or interment flag.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to preserve inherited military medals<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you know what you have, then you can think about how to protect it.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few simple choices can make a big difference:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep medals and ribbons out of direct sunlight.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid attics, basements, and other spaces with big temperature or humidity changes.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don&#8217;t attach medals with glue or tape.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use acid-free materials around medals, documents, and photographs.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep citations and service documents with the medals whenever possible.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consider UV-protective glazing when displaying items that could fade.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;ve inherited several pieces, don&#8217;t feel like everything has to fit into one frame.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A medal shadow box, certificate frame, flag case, and one or two photographs can become a small military memorial wall. Instead of asking one frame to hold everything, each piece has room to stand on its own while still telling one connected story. It lets you tell more of the story while still giving each item enough room to matter.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MilitaryFrames offers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/military-medal-frames\">military medal frames and shadow boxes<\/a>\u00a0designed for everything from a single decoration to a larger collection of medals. The current collection includes dedicated Purple Heart displays, medal and certificate combinations, and larger hardwood shadow boxes.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0464aaa elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0464aaa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/military-memorial-wall-certificate-frame-1024x512.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-20305\" alt=\"Military memorial wall with a folded flag display case, framed certificate, portrait photo, and medal display\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/military-memorial-wall-certificate-frame-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/military-memorial-wall-certificate-frame-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/military-memorial-wall-certificate-frame-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/military-memorial-wall-certificate-frame-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/military-memorial-wall-certificate-frame.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-404260f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"404260f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5170cd0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5170cd0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"child-site-search\"><div class=\"search-button-v4\"><input type=\"text\" id=\"child-site-search-wt532afc\" class=\"search\" aria-label=\"Search frames or keywords\" placeholder=\"Search frames or keywords\" autocomplete=\"off\" aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"combobox\"><i class=\"fas fa-search\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><span data-input-id=\"child-site-search-wt532afc\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"fast-auto-btn\" tabindex=\"0\"><span>Search<\/span><span><i class=\"fas fa-search\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What if no one in the family can keep the medals?<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before throwing anything away or selling it, see whether someone else can preserve the history.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on the veteran and the collection, you might contact:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A veterans service organization<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The veteran&#8217;s unit or regimental association<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A local or state military museum<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A historical society with ties to the veteran&#8217;s hometown or unit<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ask how donated materials are cataloged and whether the veteran&#8217;s name and service history will remain with the collection.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That documentation can be just as important as the medals themselves.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frequently Asked Questions About Inherited Military Medals<\/span><\/h2><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who inherits a veteran&#8217;s medals?<\/span><\/h3><p>Military medals generally become part of the veteran&#8217;s personal property and estate. Who ultimately receives them may depend on the veteran&#8217;s will, estate arrangements, and applicable state laws. If several family members are interested in the medals, it can help to agree on a plan that keeps the original group intact while finding meaningful ways to share the veteran&#8217;s story.<\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can military medals be replaced?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In many cases, yes, but the rules aren&#8217;t identical across every branch. The veteran&#8217;s service branch, the age of the military record, and the relationship of the requester can all affect the process.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start with the National Archives and our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/how-to-replace-military-medals\/\">guide to replacing military medals<\/a>\u00a0before purchasing replacements.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can you sell inherited military medals?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For U.S. medals, selling is restricted by federal law (18 U.S.C. \u00a7 704). The penalties are toughest for the Medal of Honor, the service crosses, the Silver Star, the Purple Heart and combat badges such as the Combat Infantryman Badge. Many families donate medals instead. Get advice before you sell.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What if a medal has a name engraved on it?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leave the engraving exactly as it is. Names and other markings may help connect the medal to the service member and establish its history.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do I know if I&#8217;ve inherited a Purple Heart?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Purple Heart is a heart-shaped medal featuring a profile of George Washington on a purple ribbon with white edges.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have the medal along with its certificate, photographs, or citation, keep those pieces together. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/military-medal-frames\/medal-frame-259598\">Purple Heart medal frame<\/a>\u00a0can display the decoration on its own, while a medal-and-certificate frame can keep more of the story in one place.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What should I do with a veteran&#8217;s burial flag?<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep it folded, dry, and protected from prolonged exposure to sunlight and moisture. If you&#8217;d like to display it, choose a case specifically sized for a burial flag rather than a standard household flag.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Give the story a place to live<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes the most important thing in that old box isn&#8217;t any single medal.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s finally understanding what all of it meant.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The medal might tell you what your father earned. The citation tells you why. The photograph shows when. The flag tells another part of the story. Put together, those pieces give the next generation something much more valuable than a collection of objects.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At militaryframes.com by Church Hill Classics, we handcraft military displays in Monroe, Connecticut, for the medals, certificates, photographs, and flags families want to preserve.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explore our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/military-medal-frames\">military medal frames and shadow boxes<\/a> for individual decorations or complete medal groups, or visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/military-memorial-gifts\">military memorial gifts<\/a>\u00a0collection for certificate frames, flag cases, and other ways to create a lasting tribute.<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Frame the Valor. Honor the Legacy.\u2122<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71cb3f5 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"71cb3f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/military-medal-frames\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">SHOP MILITARY MEDAL FRAMES<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5451951 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5451951\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0578932 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0578932\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MF-Blog-Banner-Ad-5.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-19368\" alt=\"Shop now banner with Honor the heroes in your life text with custom Army certificate frame and photo frame\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MF-Blog-Banner-Ad-5.png 970w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MF-Blog-Banner-Ad-5-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MF-Blog-Banner-Ad-5-768x198.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 970px) 100vw, 970px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa4d40a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"fa4d40a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d243691 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d243691\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>RELATED BLOGS YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/how-to-replace-military-medals\/\">How to Replace Lost or Stolen Military Medals<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/how-to-thank-veterans-service-members\/\">How to Say Thank You to Veterans &amp; Service Members<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/is-the-us-army-achievement-medal-a-big-deal\/\">Army Achievement Medal: Meaning, Rank &amp; Display Ideas<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/air-force-achievement-medal\/\">Air Force Achievement Medal: Meaning &amp; Display Ideas<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/top-military-medals\/\">The Top 10 Military Medals &amp; How to Frame Them<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fdb608 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3fdb608\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d14eac3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d14eac3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">FEATURED PRODUCTS<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-557e9c91 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"557e9c91\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c02e468 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7c02e468\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-afa3dec elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"afa3dec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"422\" height=\"292\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Purple-Heart.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-21089\" alt=\"Purple Heart Certificate &amp; 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x 5&apos; Flag\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/presentation-flag-case.png 596w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/presentation-flag-case-300x202.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 596px) 100vw, 596px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2caa8389 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2caa8389\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-17c50d6a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"17c50d6a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"543\" height=\"622\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/US-Army-Presidential-Memorial-Certificate-Frame.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-21340\" alt=\"Military frame with green and gold matting featuring the Presidential Seal.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/US-Army-Presidential-Memorial-Certificate-Frame.jpg 543w, https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/US-Army-Presidential-Memorial-Certificate-Frame-262x300.jpg 262w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 543px) 100vw, 543px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c9cdc47 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3c9cdc47\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-228e64c4 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"228e64c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/military-medal-frames\/certificate-frame-259601\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Purple Heart Certificate &amp; Commemorative Medal Frame<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-445602ee e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"445602ee\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27ff0268 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"27ff0268\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/flag-display-cases\/flag-case-mili0302\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Memorial Honors Flag Case<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15ea6866 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"15ea6866\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1603b756 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"1603b756\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militaryframes.com\/army\/certificate-frame-471322\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Presidential Memorial Certificate Frame<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Found a box of inherited military medals? Here&#8217;s how to identify each award, divide keepsakes fairly, and preserve the veteran&#8217;s story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":20301,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-military"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What to Do With Inherited Military Medals - militaryframes.com Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Found a box of inherited military medals? 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