The sight of an empty chair at the dinner table is heartbreaking for military families who have lost a beloved service member. While we honor all veterans on Veterans Day, families grieving the loss of a veteran feel the absence most keenly.
A military memorial plaque is a meaningful way to pay tribute to those we’ve lost while keeping their memory alive. This Veterans Day, consider placing a custom plaque to commemorate your veteran’s service and sacrifice.
What Are Military Memorial Plaques?
Military memorial plaques are personalized tributes designed to honor fallen veterans. These plaques typically display:
- The veteran’s name
- Branch of military served
- Service dates
- Awards received
- Optional photo
- Optional personal message
Memorial plaques are traditionally displayed in places with special meaning to the veteran like gravesites, columbaria, memory gardens, veteran memorial walls, and personal residences. They serve as lasting markers of remembrance.
Benefits of Military Memorial Plaques
Military memorial plaques offer grieving families and fellow service members meaningful ways to pay tribute to America’s veterans. Benefits include:
- Honor and validation. Memorial plaques formally recognize a veteran’s military service and sacrifice. This validation is comforting for grieving families.
- Remembrance and reflection. Plaques provide a dedicated, visible space devoted to the veteran’s memory. Viewing the plaque sparks reflection and opportunities to share cherished memories.
- Pride and patriotism. Memorial plaques allow families to take pride in their loved one’s military service to our country. Plaques are enduring symbols of their sacrifice.
- Connection and community. Visitors read memorial plaques to learn about veterans. This fosters connections between the past and present while strengthening community.
- Legacy and history. Veterans’ names live on through memorial plaques. These tributes become part of our nation’s military history and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
Custom Design Options
Military memorial plaques are fully customizable to meet your unique needs and vision. Top design options include:
- Size. Plaques come in a range of sizes from small desk plaques to large monuments. Choose a size fitting for your display location. Larger plaques work well for outdoor memorials.
- Shape. Select a shape that fits your plaque design like rounded rectangles, ovals, circles, squares, crosses, pentagons, or stars. Shape can complement other design elements.
- Material. Most plaques are metal or stone. Durable cast bronze, aluminum, brass, and stainless steel are top choices for metal plaques. Etched granite and marble make classic stone plaque materials.
- Finish. Metal plaque finishes include shinier polished and lacquered looks or more subtle brushed and sandblasted finishes. Contrasting plaque colors can accent engraved names and designs.
- Mounting. Choose wall mounted, free standing, or monument plaque mounting options. Flush mounted plaques attach directly to structures. Certain outdoor plaques require concrete foundations for support.
- Design elements. Consider personalizing plaques with the veteran’s photo, meaningful symbols, inspirational quotes, clip art images or decorative etched designs. Branch seals and awards add authentic military detail.
- Inscriptions. Include important personal and military service details. Many families choose to add “In Loving Memory” or “In Honor Of” messages. Etched inscriptions have an elegant, timeless look.
Choosing Words of Remembrance
Composing the wording for a memorial plaque is an opportunity to encapsulate your veteran’s legacy. While inscriptions are brief, they carry deep personal meaning.
Where to begin? First reflect on the veteran’s character, values, and defining qualities. What words best capture his or her spirit? List special memories that surface. Reflect on important service milestones. These details will inspire plaque wording.
Here are touching examples of memorial plaque messages:
“John F. Kennedy: Patriot, President, Peacemaker”
“Beloved Son, Brother, Friend”
“He Touched Many Lives”
“Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That He Lay Down His Life For Friends”
“Thank You For Your Courage”
“Forever in Our Hearts”
The wording should resonate with the veteran’s personality and what he or she found meaningful. Strike a balance between celebrating life and acknowledging loss.
Where To Display Memorial Military Plaques
Finding a fitting display location is part of the memorialization process. As you consider placement, reflect on sites holding special significance to the deceased where family and friends can visit to pay respects and reflect.
Top placement ideas include:
- Grave markers and columbaria niches. Etched granite grave markers serve as headstones while plaques adorn columbaria niches holding cremated remains. These memorials mark the veteran’s final resting place.
- Veteran memorial walls. Installed on public or private memorial walls, plaques align with fellow service men and women. Visitors view the wall to honor all veterans memorialized.
- Gardens and parks. Memorial plaques in gardens or veteran’s memorial parks create peaceful spaces to reflect and enjoy nature as you remember the deceased.
- Private residences. Homes and outdoor areas are fitting plaque locations to remember a beloved veteran family member who lived there.
- Cemeteries. Public and private cemeteries may allow memorial plaques along walkways, memorial gardens or central memorials regardless of burial location.
- Community monuments. Town squares, municipal buildings, churches and community centers are appropriate plaque display sites. Position plaques in high visibility areas to regularly spark remembrance.
- Military academies and bases. Military facilities with public memorial areas provide ideal backdrops to honor fallen veterans who trained or served there.
Veterans Day: A Time to Honor and Reflect
Veterans Day brings mixed emotions for military families coping with loss. Take time this November 11 to honor your veteran and reflect on how you want to memorialize their enduring legacy.
Custom military tribute plaques from Order Fast Awards offer made-to-order honors designed by those who knew your veteran best – you. Etched memorials preserve memories while standing the test of time.
This Veterans Day, pay tribute with a military memorial plaque. Your veteran’s sacrifice and selfless service deserve lasting recognition.
Check Order Fast Awards for Military Memorial Plaques