How to Create An Iraq War Veteran Military Shadow Box

Create a lasting family memento commemorating your service as an Iraq War Veteran.

You’ll need some information to start your Iraq War Veteran shadow box. The best policy is to get all of the award and personal information you’ll need to create the shadow box ahead of time. All of this information is listed on a Veteran’s DD-214 separation paper, which can be obtained through The National Archives. If the DD-214s are not available to you, you’ll want to at least be sure to get the rank, branch of service and unit information for your Iraq War Veteran.

The shadow box below is a very basic display that will fit most Veterans DD-214s. If you or your Iraq War Veteran served 30 days in theater or 60 nonconsecutive days between 19 March 2003 and 31 December 2011, the case below shows some medals you or your Veteran would have earned. Here is an example of how you can build a beautiful shadow box to showcase your military medals or to give as a gift for an Iraq War Veteran. We built this shadow box using our Shadow Box Builder online.

1. Rank as a full size patch can be a cool feature. You can also use smaller metal rank if you are limited on space.
2. Collar insignia, rank, patches or badges always look good here.
3. Ribbon sets look good as a topper to the full size medals.
4. Official full size medals are the heart of every shadow box. Use gold plated medals for Marines.
5. Generations to come will know what your medals are with ID plates.
6. Dog tags or military medallions look great in this space.
7. Challenge coins or unit awards can put the finishing touches at the base of the display.
8. Engraved plates honor and identify the Iraq War Veteran and shadow box.

We built this case using the online Shadow Box Builder and it came to about $250 with full mounting service and shipping to your door ready to hang.

Medals some Iraq War Veterans have in common:

NDSM : National Defense Service Medal
Dates: 2003-TBD
Criteria: Any honorable active duty service.

ICM : Iraq Campaign Medal
Dates: 2003-2012
Criteria: Active participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

GWOTEM : Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Dates: 2002-TBD
Criteria: For the deployment abroad for 30 days in support of the Global War on Terrorism operations on or after 11 September 2001.

GWOTSM : Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Dates: 2002-TBD
Criteria: For service for 30 days in support of the Global War on Terrorism operations in the U.S. or overseas on or after 11 September 2001.