Memorabilia

12 years ago

I don't quite know how to phrase this, so bear with me.

What sort of memorabilia have you kept from your younger days, or from you or your spouses military days? I'm a Vietnam vet with a few medals, the most auspicious of which is a Good Conduct medal :) the othes are just for showing up and being there. The insignia from the 24th Evac Hosptal where I worked means the most to me.

I was raised catholic and Mom - a very devout christian - bought me a book of prayers the day I made my first communion. It's falling apart but I'll have it for the rest of my life.

The Phila Zoo had boxes around that you could turn on by purchasing a plastic key (50 cents) that would play a recording about the animal in the cage behind it. I still have that from waaaay back.

Yours?

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Comments (12)

Sally Brownlee
12 years ago
The first thing that comes to my mind is really not that old....it is a medallion for completing the Pittsburgh marathon in 2003.
I keep it hanging by my desk. It is a reminder that quitting is not an option. 26.2 miles makes most every task seem a little easier.

I have quite a few keepsakes from my childhood...
cate52
12 years ago
Have you considered a shadowbox for some of those items...
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lynn_d
12 years ago
I have a few dolls, my teddy bear, lots of things that mom gathered from our moves and travels (dad was an army lifer). But I'm really not one to hang on to things for sentimental reasons. To me, things are just things. I really think that a big part of that comes from being an army brat. We didn't amass a lot of stuff because we were moving around, it also explains my intra-personal relationships. I can move on in a heartbeat.
maire_cate
12 years ago
I have a thread bare teddy bear that my parents gave me when I was 3 and the prayerbook, rosary and Cinderella watch that I received for my First Communnion. My Dad gave me all of his WW 2 photos, medals, awards etc.
Fun2BHere
12 years ago
I have a stuffed rabbit from my babyhood, my first toe shoes, and a few photographs. I think my mother has some of my baby clothes.
glenda_al
12 years ago
Have a telegram from Santa. It's falling apart, aged brown with the years. Have it in my first ever Bible, a New Testament, my Sunday School teacher gave me.

High school, in a sorority, and one gal gave us each a sterling silver bookmark, that had our individual silver patterns on it. Back then, we selected our patterns while in high school.

Have my dinner ring that parents gave me when I was a jr or sr in high school.

Too many others to mention.
cynic
12 years ago
I can't really think of anything like that that I have kept. I have some photos I guess if that counts. Otherwise, nothing.
kayjones
12 years ago
I haven't kept anything, either - I guess the oldest thing from my youth would be my h.s. diploma circa 1968. I do have some old jewelry that I played with when I was a kid, but it's just that - old costume jewelry. I have my h.s. yearbook that has a couple of photos from when I was little and a photo of my parents when they were young, but that's it.
Lindsey_CA
12 years ago
I still have the Daily Missal that my father gave me when I made my First Communion (a looooong time ago). I have letters from my then-boyfriend when he was in Vietnam, as well as letters from guy friends who were stationed there. I have a lot of my father's military medals and memorabilia (the newspaper from the day it was announced that World War II ended, etc.). I've got my high school class ring, all of my yearbooks, and my HS diploma from graduation on June 17, 1967. I've also got my baby book, my birth announcement, my hospital birth certificate (complete with footprints). Oh, I've also got my report cards from grade school, and some from high school, etc., etc., etc.

Yeah, I'm a packrat.
monica_pa Grieves
12 years ago
I have a lot of this:

Newspapers:

1945 - Philadelphia Bulletin announcing WWII over
1980 - Philadelphia Daily News - Phillies won pennant
1960 - Bulletin again, "Kennedy Wins" headline

My father's(Marines) medals and service ribbons from WWII

An end of inning baseball tossed to me by Jim Thome at the last game played in Phila's Vet Stadium.

My Donald Duck Rocker father made for me in 1946.

A framed watercolor of the Victorian house I grew up in - gift from realtor when we sold it.

A Baseball autographed by Richie Ashburn in 1952 - was my mother's.

My baby book, that my mother kept.
jemdandy
12 years ago
I have all my final report cards from grade school. During my 2nd grade, the only students in school was my sister and I. That year, we were tutored by an intern teacher. to make it official, my report card for that year was signed by the county superintendent of schools.

Two class photos from a one-room country grade school.

Other things:

Newspaper clippngs of student honor rolls.

3 of 4 high school year books.

High school jacket letter.

Class photo of students in an Engineering Training Program at Rock island Asenal.

Photo of my family's Model A Ford.

College graduation photo.

5 new, hand quilted, quilts made by mother.

Tin type of my g-g-grandmother.
jannie
12 years ago
A 1965 torn ticket from a Beatles Concert. Man, was I ever 13? A silver charm bracelet from Junior High. My Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls from childhood. High School yearbook. First Communion rosary and prayer book, I was 7. My brother is still going thru my late Mom's belongings, and will send me some keepsakes.