How to Display Your Military Medals

Framing war medals is a very honourable and important responsibility. In addition to displaying the medals proudly in your home, it is very important to treat these heirlooms with the utmost respect. It is crucial to protect them with a professionally made frame so that they can be passed on to the next generations as an important part of your family history.

However, many people avoid military memorabilia framing simply because they are unsure how to do it or who to trust with these irreplaceable family heirlooms. In this article we will explore the different ways to frame your medals, so they are protected for many generations to come.

The Importance Of Framing War Medals

Military medal framing is vital in order to keep the medals and other war heirlooms protected from hidden nasties that lurk in your cupboards and draws. These hidden nasties include: paper and materials that contain acid which will discolour and sometimes corrode the medals or other items; insects like silverfish; and other risks like spillages, leaks and damage from weighty items being placed on the memorabilia.

Displaying your precious items in the highest quality frames will not only protect them for generations to come, it will help you put them in a place of honour as they deserve. Medals that sit in a drawer or cupboard can become easily lost or forgotten. However, when they are displayed in an attractive frame on your wall or bookshelf you will be reminded of your family member's sacrifice and service, keeping the family history alive.

What's The Best Way To Display Your Military Medals?

There are a few different ways to display your war medals and military memorabilia. When making a decision, take the following factors into consideration.

• What do you want to display? Is it just medals and their ribbons – or do you have photos, dog tags and other significant items you want to frame as well?
• Will you want to access the medals, for example to wear them on ANZAC day? Some types of framing make it easier to access the medals than others.
• Will you want to wear the medals? You may require war medal mounting on a wearable bar as well as war medal framing.
• Do you want to hang the medals on your wall or on a shelf? The final appearance of the display options may affect your decision.
• Do you have the original medals or do you want replica medals made? If the original medals are damaged or misplaced, you may be able to get replacement medals made.

If you aren't sure about any of the questions above, the team at Portfolio Picture Framers can help guide you through the options so that you get the highest standard result that you're looking for.

OPTION 1: PERMANENT FRAME FOR LONG TERM PROTECTION

The first way to frame your military medals and stars is to seal them permanently in a frame. This option is the best way to keep your military memorabilia safe from external elements as the frame is sealed.

With a permanent frame option, you can include a vast array of items within your frame in addition to war medals. Some great ideas include:

• a photo of the veteran in uniform
• a plaque with important information such as rank, name, service number, dates of service and any honours or awards received
• memorabilia items like dog tags, badges, or small items made or collected during their service

All items will be safely secured into the frame and housed with all acid-free materials so that your items will not discolour or deteriorate. The frame is then sealed with acid-free backing and stapled closed. This type of backing is the most effective at keeping out dust and insects and will provide excellent protection for your precious items.

Whilst this is called a ‘permanent’ option, the items can be removed by a professional picture framer (without any damage to the items) if you ever wanted to re-frame them or just remove them from the frame.

If you are planning on wearing medals on ANZAC Day, we still do recommend framing the originals to keep them safe and secure. You can then obtain a set of replica medals to ensure you're still marching with pride on the day. 
 

OPTION 2: DISPLAY YOUR WAR MEMORABILIA IN A PERSPEX BOX

The second option for displaying your medals is to place them in a Perspex box. With this option, you would simply have to take the Perspex box off the stand to access your medals. The box protects the medals from all elements and requires none of the effort of opening up a frame to access them.

The other benefit of this option is you can place this perspex box on a shelf, bench or coffee table without any fear of the medals getting accidentally knocked.

Photos can also be placed on the inside back of the box and an engraved plaque can be placed on the front if you desire. You can also design the box to house other war memorabilia such as dog tags, making it a perfect alternative to framing if you wish to get the items out on a regular basis.

Speak To The Team At Portfolio Picture Framers

If you are considering framing your own or your relative's war medals and are looking for  military medal framing Perth, look no further than Portfolio Picture Framers.

We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to help you decide how to frame your medals based on your requirements. Our head framer Travis has a special interest in war medal framing and can provide assistance with everything from colours to finding further war record information on your relative.

For more details, visit us at our Myaree studio or contact us today to see how we can assist.