How to Archive Medals & Ribbons

Obtain a display cabinet for the medals and ribbons. Find a suitable case for the size and amount of awards you have. For example, US Military Stuff or All American Gifts provide glass display cabinets for storing medals and ribbons.

Sort out your medals and ribbons by the date they were received. This means you have an accurate historical archive so that you can review your collection easily.

Keep a written archive or record of the medals and ribbons. To achieve this, create three columns on a piece of paper using you pen and ruler.

Label the columns. Call the first column "Name Of Medal/Ribbon," the second column "Competition" and the third "Date."

Fill in the columns with the correct information relating to each of the medals and ribbons you have. Start with the oldest award first. When you receive more medals and ribbons, you can simply add them to the end of the list.

Store the list in a file in a suitable location, such as bookshelf, a drawer or underneath a bed. This list is a written archive of your collection that you can refer to for accurate dates and reasons for the medals and ribbons.

Hang the display cabinet on a wall, following the instructions that accompany it. Make sure that it is secure so that it can take the weight of the medals and ribbons without becoming imbalanced and falling or slipping on the wall.

Put the medals and ribbons in the display cabinet. Starting with the oldest in the left-hand corner, work across from left to right. Begin a new line when each level is full. Position the awards 1 inch apart in the order in which they were received.

Add new medals and ribbons to the display cabinet when you receive them. Don't forget to keep a historical record of your collection by adding its details to your archive list.