They already got it, where it counts. Though I’d like to see a medal specifically for “Giving up his/her life for their country.” Their brothers and sisters who survived. A bunch of amazing and patriotic people who, for one reason or another, couldn’t serve. Not one of us forgets them. That is as it should be.
It’s the stories that fascinate me. I never met my Grandfather on my dad’s side. He died the year before I was born. I have his medals though. He has a Ypres medal. So I asked my uncle about it. Apparently, that “I was there” was given to a guy who was there with a horse and cart and no weapon, delivering food, ammo and water to the trenches no matter how heavy the shelling got. That little bit of ribbon and tin - which is all it is - is a constant reminder that my grand dad was a bit of a bada$$ on the quiet. Someone to live up to.
One odd thing I did notice. Most people are happy enough to tell the stories of other medal holders, but depreciate their own.
Every ribbon tells a story, if they could only talk.
Both of my grandfathers and two uncles were US Army on the Western Front though certainly not as long as your folks.
My dad’s father was a Sgt in an ammo company and I heard a little bit about delivering to the trench rears during the German bombardments when I was a kid. Of course, they were Americans and luckily had Mack trucks instead hayburners.
My other grandfather was a medic. They were also motorized.