Awards and symbols of accomplishment can regain meaning

Among the massive amount of junk in our garage are boxes of small and large plaques earned by  one or the other of the former 4-H'ers in our family.  They would agree that the awarding of trophies was over-done and except for a few, such as for outstanding 4-H'er, are meaningless now.  However, I remember that for all of
them the winning of their first plaque was exciting  and a proud moment.  

Speaking of plaques I received my share of dust gatherers.  The early years of my time as editor of the Guardian-Journal I never considered entering contests sponsored by the Louisiana Press Association.  The one year I sent in some entries and to my surprise the newspaper received recognition and awards, including a first place plaque for Best Front Page. We sent entries in every year after that that I was editor, and the walls of the newspaper office was covered with plaques.  Many would consider a first for General Excellence the most distinctive, although the sweetest for me was the trophy for Best Editorial.  That editorial reflected a battle that was won for the people of the city, vital improvements to the light and water systems.

For several years after I left the paper, they kept plaques on the walls, finally taking  them down, later to replace with more modern awards.

If I have a point in this, it is that some trophies, using that word loosely, that I once never cared about have taken on a sentimental value now they they are misplaced or lost.  I am referring to items that have to do with the time I spent in the navy.  Norton Art Gallery, which recorded my oral history, posted pictures of those items I have lost.  They can be reached by searching for Roy Lowe navy and are my two honorable discharges, the notice of separation, the Astoria newspaper that reported on the dedication of the USS Pickens, the history of the ship, and a picture of me when I was in the navy.  The picture is all I have seen for several years.  I realize my family members have little interest in any of this now,  but World War II veterans are fast leaving us, and in the future these items could be interesting to others as they are to me now.  I have enjoyed establishing contact with some former shipmates and sons and grandsons of others.  I wish I could locate a shipmate who could send me a copy of the ship's history.