Military Memories

Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand
When Liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right
I'm out here on the front line
So sleep in peace tonight.”
-- Toby Keith, American Soldier

Scrapbooking about military memories is in some ways the same as capturing the memories of any other theme in your life. But in many ways, it can be very different.

Frequently, there are not many photos of military service, especially day-to-day life. If you are lucky enough to get a few, the quality may not be what you would like. If you do have photos, you may not have been there to know how to journal. Supplies for military layouts have improved significantly over the years, but many times they are not accurate. Accuracy and attention to detail is so important in all matters military.

So, to overcome these challenges, try these solutions:

• Record military memories without photos, or ask other family members for copies of photos.


• Drive around the installation to take photos of general military life. These photos can be used to record memories or to use as backgrounds/embellishments to your layouts.


• Interview the service member for journaling, or ask him or her to jot down some thoughts or details.


• Scan patches, crests or ranks to make your own embellishments.


• Find clip art online for generic images, or service-specific images.

Military Career
Military service is a career, be it a few years or thirty years. As such, it is important to record the milestones of that military career, and the mentors and people who worked alongside you or your service member.

• The Beginning – How did you or your service member get started in an armed service? What was the reason for joining? Record dates and letters, and that first military photo if you have it.


• Training and Graduations – Every service member participates in frequent training and education. Many culminate in a graduation ceremony. Record the dates, locations and courses taken.


• Awards and Promotions – Whether it is a certificate, award or promotion, record these achievements in your scrapbook memories.


• Workplace – What was your or your service member’s specialty in the service? What did the day-to-day job responsibilities entail?

Military Life
Military service is not a job, it is a lifestyle. It is usually a challenge, sometimes an adventure, and always memorable. Not only does the service member live and breathe all things military, so does the family. I love the story that my mother tells of when she was a young girl, of her mother packing three kids into a car full of clothes and household goods. They drove across the country to join my grandfather in Alaska, where he was building a pipeline with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. No scrapbook about military life would be complete without a few layouts about the different aspects of military life.

• Life on the Installation – What is it like to live in or around a military installation? Document the social life, or lack thereof, and the traditions on the installation. Think of things like reveille in the morning, taps in the evening, and the national anthem at the beginning of events - things that occur in your world, but that most other people never experience. What types of clubs or associations are you, your service member or children part of?


• Moving – No military career is complete without several moves. Record in your scrapbook the process of moving, how it felt each time, all the places you were stationed, and even about the friends left behind.


• Separation – Military families become accustomed to being apart for long lengths of time, during temporary assignments or deployments. Scrapbook about these occasions, about how life was changed and how you managed to overcome the challenges. Try using copies of orders, covering any information you do not want seen.

Military Heritage
Most families have someone in the past that has served in the armed forces, in wartime or peace. It is important to get his or her story in writing, with as much detail as possible. Do your research, interviewing family members and using the internet as a resource. Military separation orders may also be obtained through the National Archives in Washington, DC, as long as you have some basic information and you are the next of kin. If you are not the next of kin, you will need to complete a SF-180 form, available on the National Archives website. You may also be able to find census records, and draft registry cards through websites such as ancestry.com.

Resources
US Army
US Marine Corps
US Navy
US Coast Guard
US Air Force
The National Archives

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