4 Gift Ideas to Honor the Veteran in Your Family

The very term “veteran” always carries a sense of gravity and respect with it, and it’s well deserved for past services rendered. If you have a former member of the armed forces in your family, it can be a great source of pride, but at the same time, it can be quite difficult to find a gift for them that they will actually like!

Sure, your grandpa or aunt will probably appreciate a pair of army socks, but you know deep down that they deserve better (and that you can shop for something more meaningful than a pair of camo socks!). To help you out of this predicament, here are four gift ideas for the ex-serviceperson that will truly be appreciated.

A Proper Toolbox

If the veteran in question is older than fifty, there’s a high chance that he or she will appreciate a well-equipped toolbox. What is the relation between age and a toolbox, you ask? Well, back in the old days before technology took over almost every part of our lives, people depended a lot on their hands to build stuff.

Older generations have built entire homes with their own two hands, so rest assured that a complete toolbox with the right set of tools in it will appeal to most vets and allow them to keep busy with DIY projects. If they are really good at it, chances are that they might even be able to turn this hobby into a small business.

Now, the term “proper toolbox” means the tools and supplies in it will have to keep the following in mind:

• The actual interest or expertise of the war vet, which could be anything from carpentry to metalworks
• The supplies he/she already has access to, or has been looking to buy for some time

Ask the veteran about his or her specific realm of expertise. The more you inquire about their hobbies and special projects, the better an idea you’ll have about the tools and accessories you’ll need to buy for their toolbox.

An Honorable Discharge Frame

That certificate of Honorable Discharge is probably gathering dust somewhere in the house, or maybe it’s in an old and dilapidated frame, lying in a corner, nearly forgotten about.

If you want to show your love for a family member while also highlighting your appreciation for his or her service to our country, nothing can do it better than one of the customized Honorable Discharge Frames available from Church Hill Classics.

You’re sure to bring a smile to the veteran’s face by cleaning up the esteemed certificate and housing it in an archival-quality, handbuilt frame that’s designed to preserve and protect this family heirloom. Offering a range of price points and distinguished styles—from a classic black frame with an engraveable nameplate to a cherry certificate frame featuring a panoramic photo of an eagle and the US flag—putting this hard-earned military certificate on display will mean the world to your loved one.

Dedicate a Wall to the War Vet’s Achievements

If you happen to have a war hero in your family who’s earned medals, coins, and certificates, it’s actually a great idea to dedicate an entire gallery wall to them.

Create an aesthetically pleasing accent wall to add a new aspect to your interior décor and show off your love for the country and the veteran in the family. Put every coin, medal, certificate, and special photograph they have earned during their service up on that wall and give the display proper accent lighting. The next time he or she enters the house, chances are that it will be an emotional moment for everyone.

Church Hill Classics has flag cases, coin displays, medal displays and various other kinds of frames that cater to every department of the country’s defense, including the Marine Corps, Navy, Army, Air Force, National Guard, and Coast Guard. Therefore, you will find all you will need to make that wall come alive, with military frames for every branch of service.

A Bottle of Old Scotch

What veteran wouldn’t enjoy receiving an expensive bottle of well-aged Scotch whisky? Get your loved one some strong but smooth single-malt that’s worthy of gifting to an ex-serviceman or ex-servicewoman. It’s a time-honored traditional gift that they’re sure to appreciate, and they can enjoy toasting to old memories with their fellow veterans.

There is always a sense of debt that most of us feel toward the men and women who guard our country and who may sometimes have to join fights in response to a call of duty. If you have a retired or honorably discharged serviceperson in your family, be thankful that they made it back home safely. Take every opportunity you can to show how much you appreciate both their presence back home and the service they gave to their country.