Significance of these types of clan pins.

[davidlpope]

I say this with the greatest of respect to all, but we have a mixing of cultures here and I am not at all convinced that Scots kilt culture and American military(in a civilian context)culture are mixing well.

I my view, leave the medal ribbons and other military badges at home when wearing the kilt as a civilian, apart from very specific events, like Armistice Day. Sorry.

If a person earns their military credentials here in the USA he/she is perfectly proper in following our customs when wearing the kilt, I can discern no reason why they would be forced to wear them according to only British custom. The codes state that they can be worn with "proper" attire. In my humble opinion nothing could be more proper than the kilt.

I always scratch my head over why so many kilted men wear decorations in the daytime. I have miniature medals that I wear with evening dress when the occasion calls for it, but it seems ostentatious to wear a ribbon rack to a regular highland games.

I guess I'm more of the school that one's military service, in itself, leads to a deep sense of personal satisfaction and that there is no need to advertise such service to others. In that sense, it's not a question of whether one CAN wear personal decorations with civilian dress, but that it seems a bit common to wear such decorations in circumstances where they seem showy/out of place, etc.

[creagdhubh]

I always scratch my head over why so many kilted men wear decorations in the daytime. I have miniature medals that I wear with evening dress when the occasion calls for it, but it seems ostentatious to wear a ribbon rack to a regular highland games.

I guess I'm more of the school that one's military service, in itself, leads to a deep sense of personal satisfaction and that there is no need to advertise such service to others. In that sense, it's not a question of whether one CAN wear personal decorations with civilian dress, but that it seems a bit common to wear such decorations in circumstances where they seem showy/out of place, etc.

I scratch my head too, David. I too have miniature medals that when wearing Highland dress, I choose to wear with only evening attire, affixed at the appropriate place on my regulation doublet. As a former active-duty Marine with various awards, to include parachutist wings ("jump" wings), from my time in service, I do not wear these pinned all over my chest during the day at Highland games and other related gatherings.

Me - wearing my miniature medals and "jump" wings with a civilian suit - quite appropriate for the day, my lovely wife, also a Marine, and the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. Photo taken at Marine Week, Saint Louis, Missouri, June 2011.


Semper Fidelis and Ductus Exemplo,