The old soldier's medals - sell them, or give them to the museum?

Question

The girls' father accumulated an impressive array of campaign and gallantry medals during his career. Two daughters want to sell them, but the third wants to donate them to the regimental museum. The two who want to sell them are in easy circumstances and don't need the money. What do you think?

Answer 1

Donate them.  Other than him, no one else deserves those medals.  It would do him honor to put them in a museum.

Answer 2

My own feelings are that they should be offered to his regimental museum (they do occasionally purchase items for display, and as he has a gallantry award this will be more likely).  Whatever your decision do not break them up by selling some and donating some, if you go down this route you may as well throw them away.

Answer 3

How sad!  The girls should want to honor their Father's accomplishments and courage by having the medals mounted and properly displayed with pride.  If they are too insensitive to understand the sacrifice and service that these medals represent, then by all means donate them to a museum where they can be an inspiration to others.  

Answer 4

If he has a North Africa campaign medal it's worth a cool £400

Get them valued sell the expensive ones and make some £££££ then donate the tat to the regiment or museum.

I'm sure everyone will be happy.

Answer 5

Museum

Answer 6

Do not sell them. These awards were earned and should'nt be sold just to make a buck, especially if the persons involved don't need the money. I would donate them to either the regimental museum or to your local VFW. They are always willing to display someones decorations and it's in your community so you always have the option of seeing them any time you want. Hopefully there isn't a Medal of Honor in the decorations if so be sure this particular award isn't sold. It is a felony offense. Be careful anytime you consider selling medals especially those earned for bravery. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

The father may not have cared much about the medals themselves, but he saved them, didn't he?  They must have meant something to him for him to save them.  In my opinion, the acts he committed to earn those medals deserve a much higher honor than auctioning the medals off to the highest bidder on eBay.  Shame on those women.

Answer 8

Those are pieces of history each and every one of them.  and did you know it is illegal to sell certain medals.

Answer 9

The third daughter has the right idea. Donate the medals to the Regiment. But first, on Armistice Day, give them a good polish and wear them (on the Right side) in honour of your Father.

Answer 10

The new, improved, national infantry museum at Fort Benning, GA is still seeking donations.  They opened the chapel today to bury SFC Lipparzo - a WWII, Korea & Vietnam vet -- but the main museum is still a work in progress.

It would be wonderful if they would donate them to the National Infantry Museum for display.  Their fathers name would be preserved for future generations to see.  Failing that, I think the regimental museum is a wonderful idea.

I do hope that my child never thinks it would be a good idea to sell my medals.  I know I would never do such with my fathers medals.  Thats just tacky.

Answer 11

Donate them, unless one is especially hard up, they should go to a military museum like The Imperial War Museum or similar.  

Answer 12

Surly things like gallantry medals belong to the family into perpetuity , they may think so Little of there dad ( Is his bravery bought so cheap) but what of future generations of children in there line , I'm sure they would look back in pride that there ancestor was so brave and give them a great sense of of lineage. is money that important . failing that a museum were they can go to see them would seem the second best choice.

Answer 13

Do him an honor and place his medals in a museum.

He earned those medals with blood,sweat and tears.

Just give them to me...I'll make sure the old soldier gets the honor and respect he deserves.

:)

Answer 14

They deserve to be in a museum.

Answer 15

it's quite saddening to think of them being sold when they were not bought but earned. To sell them would like erasing the mans deeds and honour

Answer 16

"The girl's Father", was he part of the family, if so why would ANYONE want to part with their families history?

If you do want to get rid of them donate them to the Regimental Museum of the Regiment (or service) that he served in.

If he served in the Army the Regiment concerned will welcome with open arms the medals of an 'old boy'

As a final comment, if the medals are quiet common you might not get much for them if you sell them

Answer 17

Depends.  Does the museum already have these medals or would they be the first?  

Without knowing all the facts; I think I would donate some, sell some and give the money to a military related charity.  

Answer 18

Medals to regimental museum then we can all look at them and share some of the glory.  This will not happen if they are sold and purchased by a private collector.