Question to the people who serve in the military
 

I had a good friend of 30 years pass away this spring. He was always there for me even when I started to get sick and was so needy helped me go to the store work on my bike and so on. At the end of his funeral he was honored with the 21 gun salute. Now for my Question I have 4 spent casings from the M1 and was wondering what I could make with them to remember him by. I don’t want something horrid looking should I melt them down into something or just add one to my medicine bag. Can you offer any suggestions please? Thank you so much.

I'm not in the military yet, but I have been on a few memorial details an participated in a volley of fire. I think it's awesome you want to hold on to his memory with the spent cartridges. If you want to affix them to something is to take them to a weapon store and have then remove the primer and then use that as the point to attach the hook or lanyard. I have no experience with melting the brass (assuming they are my silver looking then they are steel). Another option is to make a memorial bracket for him. They are commonly 1in thin steel bands that have information engraved on them; similar to the POW/MIA bands of the past. Google POW/MIA bands (or click here http://www.memorialbracelets.com/index.php) and a few sites will pop up with the option for custom engraving. Let me know if I can offer any more, best of luck with your goal. I've had a KIA band for 2 years now that only comes off for MRIs, I know I'm young but it means a lot that people still care to carry on the memory of those who have passed.

When an individual receives military funeral honors including a three volley salute, it is customary to place three of the spent shell casings within the United States burial flag which is then presented to the next of kin. The three shells represent the three volleys. If it were me and if possible, I would first ensure that three shell casings had been placed within the burial flag as I have seen this overlooked.

You may wish to consider obtaining a United States flag, folded (in a triangle as you've probably seen and as your friend's burial flag would have been folded). Place three of the shell casings in the flag and place the flag in a display case to be placed in your home, office, etc. to remember your friend and in honor of his service. To me, it wouldn't be so much that I had something made from the casings to display; but, rather that I had something to remind me of the individual. In this case, you would know the casings were there and would know what they and the flag represent.

The fourth casing you could place in your medicine bag as you suggest to carry a reminder and token of honor always.

My condolences for the loss of your friend.

Thanks so much I do not think that she was given the 3 casings as they just said police your brass. but I did not look as I did not know this. I like the ideal of the flag and display case. one day my farther will be given the same honor so I will make sure of the 3 casings thin.

Well, they probably wouldn't have handed them to her, but would have just placed them in the folds of the flag before presenting it to her. But, like I said, I've seen this overlooked. You wouldn't know unless you were watching for it.

I like the ideal of the flag and display case.