Writing a Eulogy

There may come a time in your life that you are asked to write a eulogy. Think of it as writing a speech… possibly the most important speech that you have ever written. Even so, it does not have to be looked upon as a daunting task.

The majority of those who are asked to write a eulogy have a great deal of knowledge about the people they will be honoring. (Usually it is a family member or close friend who is asked to deliver it.)

Because of this, there is typically little research that needs to be done. Many times biographical information such as names and dates are the only things that must be verified. The rest of the eulogy can be based on wonderful memories and personal experiences, shared with the deceased.

In the event that you are asked to deliver a eulogy for a person, whom you don’t know well, the first thing you should do is speak with friends and family members, if possible. They should be able to supply you with information and their own personal experiences, suitable for a eulogy.

Eulogies are not necessarily meant to be a chronological history of a person’s life. Although, in some cases that’s how they are written. Eulogies are meant to convey the reasons the deceased will be missed and how much he was loved.

Writing a Eulogy should not be taken lightly. It is not something that can be written quickly. Some people actually find it easier to stick to a theme, during the writing process, making it a bit easier for the words to flow.

If you attended school with the deceased, you might want to focus on your school days.
If you are a family member you might want to talk about his childhood. If you are a coworker, you can focus on work-related memories and humorous anecdotes.

It is, in fact, acceptable to include humorous moments in a eulogy. While it’s probably not wise to crack jokes, a little humor will help to lift the spirits of those attending the services.

Funeral services are meant to celebrate the lives of lost love ones. Humor is an appropriate way to celebrate life.

Keep in mind, when writing a eulogy, this type of speech should last anywhere from four to ten minutes. However, don’t worry if it runs just a bit longer. No one will be timing you, with a stopwatch.

Even though death is a sad event, eulogies should always be written in an uplifting and inspiring manner. Again remember, the service and eulogy is held to honor the deceased and celebrate life. It is a wonderful idea to include any major achievements that occurred during the person’s lifetime.

It is important that you avoid any statements or references that portray the deceased in a negative manner. You can include poems, quotations or passages from the Bible, when appropriate.

There are many facets to planning a funeral. Writing the eulogy is just one of them. It should be written and delivered from the heart.

John Andersen with us-flag-display-cases.com, US leading Flag Display Cases provider company. Get heirloom quality flag display cases, coin racks, urns and wooden display cases at affordable prices.

Tips for Pre-Planning Your Funeral

Today, many people are making the choice to pre-plan their funeral. This is actually a wise choice, for many reasons.

Thinking ahead allows you to plan the service that you see fit. Not only does this help control costs, should you choose to pre-pay for everything, it also relieves family members of this task, during their time of grief.

In truth, one of the greatest benefits of Pre-Planning Your Funeral is that it reduces the chance of emotional overspending, which is quite common when family members are left to plan a love ones service. They feel they must buy the best of everything for a proper memorial.

Of course, that is not the case. But unfortunately, there are a few unscrupulous, fast talking funeral providers out there who are only in the business to make a buck. These individuals excel at selling the most expensive products, to grieving families.

Because of these unscrupulous providers, the Federal Trade Commission has stepped in and enacted laws, in regard to your rights as a consumer. These laws regarding burials and funerals vary, from state to state. Before making any purchases, educate you on the goods and services that are optional, when planning a funeral.

If you do make a decision to pre-plan your funeral, it is suggested that you review your arrangements every few years… in the event that you need to change or revise anything.

When making plans, you have the option of finalizing everything from location to choice of Minister or Clergyman to flowers to casket to even urn and pedestal, should you choose cremation. Each of these items that are notated, in your plan, will be one less item that your family members will have to designate.

Obviously, your funeral plan should be put in writing, to avoid any questions or confusion. It is best to give copies to more than one family member, as well as your attorney.

Many people make the mistake of including their funeral wishes in their will. But many times, the will is not located or read until after the funeral. So, in these cases, pre-planned fuel arrangements can not be carried out.

If you are considering prepayment for your funeral, either partially or in full, there are specific questions you should ask the funeral provider. These questions include:

1. Are you paying for goods, services or both?
2. What happens if the funeral provider goes out of business, before services are required?
3. Can you obtain a full refund, if you change your mind?
4. And… can the services be transferred to another funeral provider if you move out of the area?

Always ask for a price list, when shopping for funeral goods and services. Funeral homes are required to give you a written price list, if requested.

Don’t be pressured into buying something that you really don’t want. Treat these purchases just as you would any other major purchase. Take the time to shop around, for the best prices.

When planning your funeral, pre-purchase smaller items if possible. For example, if you’ve served in the military consider purchasing a coin rack or flag case, to be displayed prominently at the service.

John Andersen with us-flag-display-cases.com, US leading Flag Display Cases provider company. Get heirloom quality flag display cases, coin racks, urns, and display cases for Pre-Planning Your Funeral at affordable prices.

The Bronze Star Medal

The Bronze Star Medal is awarded military personnel for bravery and meritorious service. Not to be confused with the bronze service stars, which are worn on service awards and campaign medals?

(It can be awarded to all military personnel except for those serving in the Army. That practice ended in 2000.)

To be eligible to receive the medal, individuals must be actively receiving imminent danger or hostile fire pay, during the event for which the star is to be awarded.

The Bronze Star Medal was the brainchild of Colonel Russell P. Reeder, in 1943. He believed that this particular metal would raise the morale of those who received it. His original intent was that it would be a ‘ground equivalent’ of the Air Medal.

It was artistically crafted by Rudold Freund, who also created the Silver Star. It is obviously made out of bronze and is one and a half inches in diameter. The backside of the metal bears the inscription ‘heroic or meritorious achievement’. It is also engraved with the recipient’s name.

President Roosevelt authorized the Medal, in 1944. It was to be retroactive back to December 7th, 1941. This authorization was amended in 1962, by President Kennedy, allowing those who served with friendly forces to be eligible for The Bronze Star Medal, as well.

The metal can be awarded with a Valor device, also known as a combat V, V-devise or combat distinguishing device. This means that the individual receive the award because of an act of valor, during direct enemy contact. It must be recommended by a superior and is not an automatic upgrade.

The Valor device can only be awarded once. It is not possible to receive the award multiple times, regardless of the number of heroic acts performed.

It gained somewhat unsavory public attention, in 1996. Admiral Jeremy Boorda committed suicide as a result of media reports stating that he had worn the Valor device, without the proper authority.

Military personnel, from all wars, have been awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Most recently are those who have served in Iraq.

If you are the recipient or family member of someone who was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, chances are you want to display it, in a place of prominence. One way to do so is to display the star in a wooden display case.

There are many of these to choose from, as they come in a variety of sizes and wood finishes. Typically, cherry and heirloom walnut are the two most common woods used. These are both excellent choices because they match almost every decor.

Many people choose to collect military badges, medals and insignia’s. This is a great way to obtain many types of metals, even though they have never served in the military.

These collectors’ items can be acquired from a variety of places. The majority of them are quite inexpensive, when compared to other types of collectibles. They can be found at online merchants, garage sales, flea markets and tucked away in the basement or attic.

John Andersen with us-flag-display-cases.com, US leading Flag Display Cases provider company. Get heirloom quality flag display cases, coin racks, urns and Wooden Display Case at affordable prices.

Medal of Honor

There are many medals and awards, which are available to members of the military, worldwide. There are personal decorations, distinguished service medals, metals for heroism, achievement medals and campaign medals… just to name a few.

The highest U.S. military decoration is the Medal of Honor. It can be compared to the British Victoria Cross and the French Legion of Honor. The Medal of Honor is usually awarded posthumously, because of what it stands for.

You can be sure that the Medal of Honor is displayed proudly in the homes of those who have earned it. The award is a valuable treasure that should be protected by a high-quality wooden display case, of some sort, to preserve its quality.

It is awarded to a military member who has distinguished himself ‘…conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States…’

All branches of the military are eligible to receive this medal. Each branch has its own specific design. The only exception to this is the Coast Guard and the Marines… they use the Navy’s design.

The Medal of Honor is a neck order award. This simply means that it is to be worn around the neck, instead of on the chest as with most military decorations. Neck orders are typically considered the highest class of military decoration.

The Metal of Honor was established in 1862 and was first awarded during the American Civil War, to Private Jacob Parrott, for his participation in the Andrews Raid. Since then almost 3500 and been awarded, over 600 of them, posthumously.

To date only one woman has received a medal of honor. This occurred in 1917, again a result of Civil War service.

There are several benefits and privileges associated with receiving the Medal of Honor. A few of which include the following:

• If the recipient is still enlisted, after receiving the medal, they are entitled to a uniform allowance.
• Each recipient is entitled to special benefits, in regard to air transportation and travel.
• Each recipient will have his name included on the Medal of Honor Roll and is entitled to a monthly pension, which is adjusted each year to match the cost of living.
• The children, of a recipient, are eligible for admission into U.S. military academies, regardless of the current quotas imposed.
• All recipients automatically receive a 10% increase in the amount of retirement pay they will receive.
• Recipients and their eligible dependents receive special identification cards and commissary privileges.

Several men have been awarded the Medal of Honor, twice in a lifetime, for two separate occurrences. Five of these men received to individual awards, one Navy in one Army, for the same occurrence.

Again, the Medal of Honor is not something you want to throw on a shelf and forget about. It is something that should be properly and proudly displayed, or everyone to see. Purchasing a beautifully designed wooden display case is a perfect alternative. They are available in several designs, sizes and price levels.

John Andersen with us-flag-display-cases.com, US leading Flag Display Cases provider company. Get heirloom quality flag display cases, coin racks, urns, and display cases for Medal of Honor at affordable prices.

Collecting Military Badges

Individuals who collect Military Badges do so for a variety of reasons. There are those who served in the military who are interested in collecting them as a remembrance, of sorts.

Other collectors do so in honor of family members who have served, at one time or another.

A third group of military badge collectors have taken up a hobby because of their strong sense of patriotism. They do not necessarily come from a family with a military background but want to honor all of the men and women who have served our country, allowing us to enjoy the freedoms we have, today.

There are many types of military badges. The information that follows covers just a few of the many badges awarded to those serving in the US Armed Forces.

There are six different categories of badges. These include: US Department of Defense badges, Army badges, Navy badges, Air Force badges, Marine Corps badges and Coast Guard badges.

The Presidential Service Badge is awarded to both military and civilian members who are employed as full-time military staff to the President. These individuals are those who are actually working, at the White House.

Each badge is created for each particular recipient and is stamped with its own unique serial number.

The badge can be presented to military and social aides, individuals assigned to the White House Communications Agency and the White House transportation agency… just to name a few.

The presidential Service Badge can be worn on a military uniform, even after employment ends. The award is noted as a personal decoration in one’s service records, as well.

Several separate branches of the military issues the Flight Surgeon’s Badge to those who are flight surgeons and qualified medical officers. It was first issued in World War II, by the Army.

There are several qualifications which must be met in order to be eligible for the Flight Surgeon’s Badge. Dependent on the branch of service, there are different ratings associated with it.

The Army and Air Force issue the badge as Basic, Senior or Master. The Navy and Coast Guard only award it in one degree. The Marine Corps does not issue this decoration because they do not maintain their own medical division.

The Naval Flight Officer Astronaut Badge is issued by both the Navy and Marine Corps. It is a breast insignia encompassing a pair of golden wings, crossed anchors and a shield.

Recipients are those who have qualified as naval flight officers, after an extensive amount of training. This training includes: aviation, airborne navigation, electronic warfare and weapons deployment tactics.

The Air Force Academy Professor Badge was created, in the 1980s, to recognize those Air Force officers who are full-time professors at the US Air Force Academy. This badge is a permanent decoration given to any officer, holding an advanced degree.

The best way to display a collection of badges is in a wooden display case, of some type. There are many beautiful cases available, in all sizes and finishes… typically heirloom walnut or cherry. These cases easily blend in with a wide variety of decor.

John Andersen with us-flag-display-cases.com, US leading Flag Display Cases provider company. Get heirloom quality flag display cases, coin racks, urns and Wooden Display Case at affordable prices.