Veterans Day Memorial Ornament
Veterans Day is important in my home. My husband served in the 82nd Airborne in the late 1990’s, then at the Burn Unit at Fort Sam in Texas, and finally as a 1st Lieutenant for the 278th Armored Calvary National Guard Unit deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom after 9/11. It was during that last mission that he met his First Sergeant, and best friend, Scott.
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As I have mentioned many many times, I enjoy making wreaths. My original plan was to make a Veteran’s Day ribbon wreath this year.
But it didn’t work out too well. Have I ever mentioned I don’t like working with mesh ribbon?
Determined, I tried to get the look I envisioned for the wreath using mesh and ended up taking the wreath apart – twice. Overly frustrated and on the third attempt at making the wreath, the frame broke. The whole mess went in the trash!
I have never thrown out a half finished wreath in my life! This one had to go.
Instead I turned to Pinterest and found new inspiration.
Using some used 308 bullet shells, I made a Veteran’s Day Memorial Christmas Ornament.
It is just a small way for me to honor a fallen veteran.
Scott passed away unexpectedly this September.
It is a deep loss and one my husband will feel for the rest of his life. They have spent nearly every Veterans Day together since returning from the war in 2006.
This project was hard to make and this post was so much harder to write than I was expecting.
I needed to make it though. And today I am sharing it with you.
To make this ornament I started with a clear plastic ornament from Dollar Tree in the shape of a mason jar, a piece of faux pine stem (also found at Dollar Tree), and a small pine cone from my own yard. Some colored twine, wooden tags, and a bag of faux snow from Michaels helped to complete the ornament.
I really like working with this shape of clear plastic ornaments because you can easily screw off the bottom to insert the larger items.
Using a funnel, I added the snow through the top opening so that it would settle to the bottom of the ornament. Then I dropped in 3 bullets and put the hanger back in place.
The wood keyrings I found at Michaels reminded me of dog tags, which is perfect for a Veteran’s memorial ornament. I painted the wood keyrings in a metallic acrylic paint in Nickel.
Scott loved his family, his country, and his guns. Not only was he retired from the Army but he was a retired Police Officer as well.
Pulling out my Cricut Joy™ machine, I created the words for the wood keyrings to represent just some of the titles for which he was proud to be called.
Husband. Father. Patriot. Friend.
The weight of the bullets makes this ornament a bit riskier than some of falling out of the tree. So I twisted together the three strands of colored twine to make a stronger hanger for the ornament.
I was given a similar Christmas ornament in yellow ribbons and red white and blue when my husband was deployed and I treasure it so much even after all of these years. I think this ornament will be just the same.
Happy Veterans Day to all who served and the family members who support them along the way.
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12
More stories to enjoy:
7 Ways to Honor A Veteran Every Day
A Different Point of View for Father’s Day
This is an incredible ornament! Speaks such volumes. So sorry for your and your husbands loss of this great friend. Keeping you both in my thoughts. Thank you to your husband for his service, and sacrifice.
Thanks Alexandra. That means a lot to me to hear. Thanks for joining the party.