A Lasting Tribute: Honoring Veterans Through Memorialization
When her father died, Mary found a small wooden box tucked away in the back of his closet. Inside was a collection of things she had seen before but never fully understood—a faded photograph of him in uniform, a few military medals, his discharge papers and a letter he had written home decades earlier.
Her father rarely talked about his service. Like many veterans, he simply considered it something he had done and moved on with his life.
But as Mary read through the keepsakes, she began to see another side of the young man who had become her dad. She realized that these pieces of his military history were more than possessions. They were part of his story.
Today, many veterans are taking the opportunity to tell that story while they can—and to think about how they would like their service remembered after they are gone.
Planning a funeral or memorial in advance isn't simply about making arrangements. For veterans, it can be an opportunity to preserve their military history, honor their service and give family members a meaningful way to remember them
.
Three ways veterans can help preserve their legacy
• Share your military story.
Families don't always know where a veteran served, what branch they belonged to, what their job was or what experiences shaped their lives. Write down important details, gather photographs and identify medals, awards and other military memorabilia. Even a few pages of memories can become a treasured family history.
• Plan how you want to be honored.
Veterans may want to discuss their wishes for funeral or memorial services with their families. Depending on eligibility and circumstances, veterans may also have access to military funeral honors. Families can benefit from knowing what the veteran wants before they are faced with difficult decisions. Advance planning can also provide an opportunity to discuss cemetery arrangements, memorial services and other details.
• Consider a lasting monument or memorial.
A headstone, plaque, memorial marker or other monument can provide a permanent place where future generations can learn about a veteran's service. A monument doesn't have to tell an entire life story. A name, branch of service, dates of service or a meaningful inscription can be enough to connect future family members with the person who came before them.
For families, these conversations can be emotional. Talking about death isn't easy, particularly when the person sitting across the table is a beloved parent, grandparent or spouse.
But planning ahead can also be an act of love.
It allows veterans to have a voice in how their service and life will be remembered. It gives families the information they need and can prevent them from having to make difficult decisions without knowing their loved one's wishes.
Most importantly, memorialization reminds us that a veteran's story does not end with military service. It becomes part of the story of a family, a community and the generations that follow.
Years from now, someone may stand before a grave, monument or memorial and wonder about the person whose name is engraved there.
Because someone took the time to preserve the story, they will know.
Comments