Retirement Gift Ideas for Military Personnel

Gifting something to military personnel at their retirement is indeed a daunting task. Known for their disciplined lives, military personally should be gifted something that will always remind them of this proud, disciplined lifestyle. On top of it, the gift should also symbolize retirement. So, how do we go about it? Here's how ...

There is no apt gift for a military retiree than a which contains his medals, ribbons, photographs, uniform, flag of the country, insignias of the ranks held by the retiree, any warfare insignia, squadron coin, or patch from each base he was stationed at.

These boxes are usually square or rectangular in shape. They have a wooden base and provide the backdrop of a velvety fabric, on which the memorabilia can be stuck.

Make a collage of some of his most memorable photographs and get them framed like an art piece. Photographs that hold some significance―ones that have him receiving a medal or standing in front of a conquered enemy base are the ones you should look out for. The retiree can hang it in his bedroom or living room and reminiscence the times he had during his service.

Personalized pocket watches plated in gold or silver, and which can be customized to include a personal message for the retiree, make for memorable gifts. So, have the retiree's name and years of service engraved in the front and a thoughtful message at the back.

You can gift the retiree an ensemble of clothes and accessories which have his squadron's logo printed on them. Jacket, t-shirts, caps, bracelets, belts, and chains―include them all.

Personalized gifts are a great way to tell the retiree that he is special and valued immensely by his co-workers. A personalized photo frame, which has the retiree's years of service, including his date of joining and date of retirement, his family photograph featuring his wife and kids, and a poem written in his honor, is one of the best gifts you can give him. Don't forget to ask all his friends to sign the back of the frame.

Military chess sets in themes such as army, air force, navy, and marines, can be gifted to the retiree. These chess sets are made up of resin and painted very neatly. The chessmen look almost real and in their own way, bring back the memories of past battles.

Besides the ones mentioned above, some other gift ideas are: personalized wine bottles, glasses, crystal trays, or furniture pieces. You can also gift him something related to a hobby you know he will definitely pursue.