Yes, I know, I know..
A hotly contended issue, but still one which I'm trying to gauge my thoughts about.
I had a conversation last night over a couple of beers ref the significance, when no longer serving, of our medals. My point, after attending our local Remembrance Day parade in SD for several years is whether I wear my medals with my suit. My decision is no. The reason for this is that while I did wear medals while still serving and attending in uniform, I will simply wear a suit and tie, pay my respects, and leave. That, to my mind, is the reason for the Parade, and that's it. On another forum I have deliberated about medals, etc, and, having recently been in Ypres for the Last Post at the Menin Gate, and having seen a clown in RBL blazer and and beret with a chest full of those non-issue, buy-it-at-leisure commemorative medals normally advertised in Soldier Mag for wankers (he had six non-issue medals and was in the main parade itself). My thoughts are:
Anyone who has ever served would ping the knob for being a wannabe.
Anyone who has never served will be none the wiser.
It's enough for me to know what I've done, what medals I'm entitled to, and simply just be there with my own private thoughts in a in unostentatious way, and to go and have a beer / something to eat without attracting attention to myself.
I'm going back to Ypres in Aug, without medals, what do you reckon?
A hotly contended issue, but still one which I'm trying to gauge my thoughts about.
I had a conversation last night over a couple of beers ref the significance, when no longer serving, of our medals. My point, after attending our local Remembrance Day parade in SD for several years is whether I wear my medals with my suit. My decision is no. The reason for this is that while I did wear medals while still serving and attending in uniform, I will simply wear a suit and tie, pay my respects, and leave. That, to my mind, is the reason for the Parade, and that's it. On another forum I have deliberated about medals, etc, and, having recently been in Ypres for the Last Post at the Menin Gate, and having seen a clown in RBL blazer and and beret with a chest full of those non-issue, buy-it-at-leisure commemorative medals normally advertised in Soldier Mag for wankers (he had six non-issue medals and was in the main parade itself). My thoughts are:
Anyone who has ever served would ping the knob for being a wannabe.
Anyone who has never served will be none the wiser.
It's enough for me to know what I've done, what medals I'm entitled to, and simply just be there with my own private thoughts in a in unostentatious way, and to go and have a beer / something to eat without attracting attention to myself.
I'm going back to Ypres in Aug, without medals, what do you reckon?