2008 Army Signal Ball Manhattan Kansas

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Hey, wear the full sized medals

Full size medals are never worn on mess dress. Military regulations are pretty clear about what and when medals are to be worn, and by extension this applies to the wearing of medals issued by the Federal Government when worn on civilian attire.

And as a general observation:

The Congress of the United States has recently enacted a new law concerning the wearing of medals and decorations by individuals not entitled to same. See STOLEN VALOR ACT on any search engine.

I personally find it distastful in the extreme when I attend a Scottish function and see men wearing medals and/or service ribbons to which they are not entitled, especially when they try to explain away their phony status as a memorial, or tribute, to their father, etc. These people are beneath contempt.

My father's medals live in a frame on the wall of my library. When I die, mine will go in a frame next to his. That's how you honour or revere the memory of someone who served in the military.

As far as wearing a military mess jacket (Canadian, US, British or commonwealth forces) with a kilt is concerned-- the less said, the better.

I have nothing against converting a mess jacket into something else, but just wearing a miliarty mess jacket with your kilt in the hopes it will make you somehow look, what? Impressive? Manly? Butch? Only makes you look laughable, and the object of silent derision by the real soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines in the room.

If I have offended any wannabe warriors, I can assure you that I have not offended you nearly as much as the false wearing of medals offends most servicemen.