Well when I was much younger my grandfather died of cancer. He was a veteran and served in the invasion of Normandy. He was knocked out of the battle and the war by a German shell on the beach which tore his leg up pretty bad.
At the funeral he of course had an honor guard do a military salute with M1 Garands, and when the ceremony was over I was asked by some of the vets if I wanted some of the empty shells. I only took five :banghead::banghead::banghead: as I wasn't into firearms at the time, and five seemed like plenty.
So fast forward numerous years and I recently get a M1 Garand. And somehow my thoughts go back to my grandpa and the shells. I dig them out of a box and see they are LC 69 headstamped.
Now my question. I am considering having them reloaded back up. I am thinking that I could load up one clip (I have other LC shells I could load with them to get to 8), since I have a Garand, and it would be a special clip that has a direct relationship with my deceased grandfather. Probably would not be shot, but it would be nice to have a functional link to my grandfather and his service.
Or should I leave the shells as they are, kind of an homage in that they were used for the honor guard ceremony? They do have a symbolism as they stand, the spent shells representing his life in a way.
Is there a proper protocol for such things? And what would you do?
At the funeral he of course had an honor guard do a military salute with M1 Garands, and when the ceremony was over I was asked by some of the vets if I wanted some of the empty shells. I only took five :banghead::banghead::banghead: as I wasn't into firearms at the time, and five seemed like plenty.
So fast forward numerous years and I recently get a M1 Garand. And somehow my thoughts go back to my grandpa and the shells. I dig them out of a box and see they are LC 69 headstamped.
Now my question. I am considering having them reloaded back up. I am thinking that I could load up one clip (I have other LC shells I could load with them to get to 8), since I have a Garand, and it would be a special clip that has a direct relationship with my deceased grandfather. Probably would not be shot, but it would be nice to have a functional link to my grandfather and his service.
Or should I leave the shells as they are, kind of an homage in that they were used for the honor guard ceremony? They do have a symbolism as they stand, the spent shells representing his life in a way.
Is there a proper protocol for such things? And what would you do?