Which flag

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Put your flag in your box.

Use your grandfather's flag to cover your coffin when it's time to ship out for that final cruise.

[Coastie]

I would use your flag as well. I used a flag flown from my last ship, in my case as the ship crossed the Arctic circle at the date line. It is a good conversation point when folks ask about the box. I just think your flag is too personal to you to pass up using it.

Now since you have some of your grandfather's awards you could have a shadow box for his service if you wanted to.

[Thor271]

I would use your flag as well. I used a flag flown from my last ship, in my case as the ship crossed the Arctic circle at the date line. It is a good conversation point when folks ask about the box. I just think your flag is too personal to you to pass up using it.

Now since you have some of your grandfather's awards you could have a shadow box for his service if you wanted to.

I agree with Coastie. I'm in a situation like yours, my Grandfather and I share the same Trade in the EME (Electrical Mechanical Engineers) Branch. We have served on many of the same bases and units, he served in WW2 and Korea, I served in Afghanistan. I have all of his RCEME (Royal Canadian Electrical Mechanical Engineers) Accoutrements, his Flag and Ribbons, as well as my own. My entire Family is or was in the service, so all of his things came to me as I was the only one to serve in the same Trade, Branch, Element (Army).

I've decided that once I retire I will have my Shadow Box made up from my own and place it beside his. Also when my Father passes I will take all of his "Jimmy Wear" and put it in a shadow box to have all three generations side by each.

I'd throw up a picture but all my things have been packed up in preparation of my moving to my new post.

Good Luck!

[EagleJCS]

Civilians can also be patriots. There is the famous quote, "They also serve, who only stand and wait." In the UK, many non-military people are buried under a Union Flag. Is that not possible in the US?

Chas,
It's been the custom in the U.S. to honor military veterans (and some long-serving civil servants/elected officials) with the national flag on their coffin. An ordinary citizen is not normally accorded such an honor and, given the tradition, many people would be confused if they knew the deceased had never served (either in the military or civil office). Even rarer is a funeral with a different flag (state, city or other organization). I have seen it done once with a church flag (white with a red cross in a blue field in the upper left) for a long-serving pastor.


Drac,
I'd use your own flag for your box. It has more relevance to your military service than your grandfather's flag. I would go along with MoR in suggesting you save his flag for your own funeral. Just make sure your family knows your wishes in that regard. Just my US$0.02.

[Drac]

Thanks all. I am now thinking to doing a box for his stuff. I will check with the Sea Bees to see if I can get one to work with me.

I found one that gives me ideas. Maybe like this with his jumper in place of the certifacate -



Doing some research I've found an old POD from his ship during WWII while he would have been on it -



As for what to do after I'm gone, I have no kids and I only have one nephew that is going into the military. If he makes it through boot camp (he's smart, maybe a little to smart) he'll be a Marine so while the two services are close it may not mean as much to him. I am in contact with several military museums and they might be interested in it. I am also in contact with his ship's association and they maybe able to help provide me more info.

Thanks,
Jim

[Spartan Tartan]

I would keep your flag for your shadow box. I would also make a shadow box or some display for your grandpa using his flag.

I have my grandpa's flag sitting about 2 feet behind me in my office at this very moment. It is the first and most prominently displayed item in every office I have ever had and will continue to be so in the future. I still have the shells folded into the flag from the 21 gun salute at the funeral for my grandpa. The flag sits in a box alone with an inscription dedicated to my granpa.

[Detroitpete]

Drac,

I'm a veteran and so was my grandfather. I had the honor of serving in his honor guard at his memorial service. My mother received his burial flag, then later gave it to me. I used it in the memorial box I created for him. I, too have my own flag that will hopefully be used to cover me at my memorial service.

I say, recieve his gift in the manner and honor which it is given and use it to remember him and his service. Use your's for your own purposes.

[Drac]

Thanks all.

I put a post up in a Navy forum to see if anyone there that made shadow boxes (there were a couple) wanted to do trades so we'll see how it goes.

Jim

[Bill aka Mole]

Jim, you might want to check the classifieds in the back of a Navy (or any other) Times to see if there are any shadow box makers advertising there as well, if only for design ideas.

While I have no true idea when my flag flew over my last ship, I like to tell others that it was flying on the day that we recovered over 3,000 pounds of Columbia's other cash crop while on a counter narcotics cruise off of Central America.

[ohiopiper]

I have a friend of mine who retired in Jacksonville last year and does a lot of woodwork. I'll get in touch with him and see if he'd be willing to swap e-mails with you and work a deal, if you're interested.