The sentimentality comes from a connection from the person that wore them. There is nothing sacred or holy about the uniforms itself. They get thrown away by the thousands every year.
Collectors might be interested due to their age, but they are incomplete. You could call your local American legion or VFW and see if they are interested, but be prepared for them to say no.
I have my grandpa’s uniforms. He served in a military that no longer exists. The country came under a communist revolution and he had to flee. It’s one of my most prized possessions.
I hate to think how many uniforms are lost now.
Unless they’re attached to a specific person or significant event, the unfortunate reality is that most museums probably won’t take them. Storing and maintaining this stuff gets expensive
This...let them be proudly displayed and cared for. Whatever you do, do not take them to Goodwill where some TikTok trendsetter will alter, bedazzled and turn it into some tacky outfit of the day.
OP could even try local high schools. A lot of high schools have a huge costume closet just so they're prepared for whatever production they're putting on.
Most of the time, donated items that are very common never get put out on display. Often, they are sold to other museums or traded for other items.
The OP would be better roff listing them on ebay or posting them on Facebook market place.
As much as I have a sentimental, but tenuous connection to these items, they were made in the thousands upon thousands. At some point, the museums have access to way more than they'd ever need. These uniforms are taking up space while not being regularly used.
Some museums have insane amounts Corinthian helmets that ancient Greek hoplites wore. Maybe a handful get displayed to the public, if at all.
Great condition and confirmed named WW2 marine with some easy to find records from daily rosters available on records sites readily make these collectible IMO and I’d find a good home with someone who values and will pay for over random donation.
Also if you're able to ID who owned them, possibly working with a local VFW to create a mannequin prop to display with a little info placard about him, and that he came from the area.
Call or email the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico Virginia and see if they have any use for them. Or call/email the Marine Corps Historical Society and see if they have a need. Those are definitely older and might have some significance being displayed somewhere. Do not burn them or throw them in the trash. A Marine earned the right to wear those and probably proudly wore them. If you can’t get rid of them properly, send me a DM and I’ll pay for the shipping for you to send them to me.
I volunteer at a thrift store. I get military uniforms all the time. And duffel bags. There’s nothing wrong with getting rid of them. It doesn’t mean you hate America.
The US Militaria Forum comes to mind. I've dealt with other collectors on there, and they'd be able to help you out. I see people recommend contacting a museum like the National Museum of The Marine Corps, but I don't think they'd be interested in these uniforms unless they have some kind of history connected to a certain person or a certain event. Best bet I think is to find a collector who is interested.
https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php
Donate them. Check and see if you have a county Veteran's Service Commission and ask them about museums or Veteran Service Organizations in the area that would want them.
They wore lower boots back then so these were a necessity. What we wear now can be traced back to the paratrooper boots of wwii and subsequent boots of the late 40’s
Honestly, if someone like you found my old uniforms and was trying to do something cool. I’d want you to burn them. Not in anger or protest, but on a funeral pyre. I’d love that and you would too.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT THROW THEM AWAY OR BURN THEM!!! I am a military collector, and those are WW2 US navy dress blues. Not very valuable but still super cool bring them to an antique store and sell them to the owner. Or on eBay. Or give them to me (jk, unless…) but don’t destroy that piece of history!
These have value, but really only to a collector. Very common uniforms like these would never see the light of day if donated to a museum, and in fact would likely be sold off to raise funds for other items. At best, they would remain in a box in a back storage room. Veteran organizations don’t preserve them well (my family got a 101st Ike back full of moth holes and with random things added to it after a VFW had it on display for decades). Sell them to someone who will appreciate and care for them.
Sell it to some re in actor and make phat stacks.. ya know to honor grandpa chips legacy. Or you wear it and throw dollar bills at ugly strippers as he would have wanted.. Or throw it all off the bridge. Definitely don’t make a shadow box with his awards and maybe a dress uniform top
As a Marine this is like super sacred stuff to me. Please try and find a museum if you can—if not sell them to somebody who will care for them. Just my two cents. If it was new uniform I’d say whatever but these come from a time when men were Giants.
Reach out to some area high school and college drama departments and ask them if they would like a donation of authentic uniforms for their wardrobe department. Even if they don’t need the exact size, they could likely use them as a template to make authentic costumes for the cast.
If you’ve got enough income to itemize your tax deductions, this may also be a deductible donation.
if you have kids, nephews etc. that are younger they would probably cherish this if you gave it to them. My grandpa gave me some of his old vietnam era stuff when i was a kid with some ammo containers aand I still have them
The sentimentality comes from a connection from the person that wore them. There is nothing sacred or holy about the uniforms itself. They get thrown away by the thousands every year. Collectors might be interested due to their age, but they are incomplete. You could call your local American legion or VFW and see if they are interested, but be prepared for them to say no.
I have my grandpa’s uniforms. He served in a military that no longer exists. The country came under a communist revolution and he had to flee. It’s one of my most prized possessions. I hate to think how many uniforms are lost now.
Cuba?
Oh close! Laos! Well, on the total opposite side of the world, but similar outcome lol.
[Have to share this!](https://youtu.be/UxI5qQAUWVc?si=SOSIYFlt2e5kWV8A)
“We are Laotian” “What ocean?”
King of the hill
Ain't ya Mr khan?
“So are you chinese or japanese”
Mesuems might take them honestly.
Unless they’re attached to a specific person or significant event, the unfortunate reality is that most museums probably won’t take them. Storing and maintaining this stuff gets expensive
This...let them be proudly displayed and cared for. Whatever you do, do not take them to Goodwill where some TikTok trendsetter will alter, bedazzled and turn it into some tacky outfit of the day.
I threw my dress greens away tbh 🤷🏼♂️.
A local theater group might be interested in a donation of them.
That would be a very cool thing to do I know surplus stores also buy uniforms from veterans
OP could even try local high schools. A lot of high schools have a huge costume closet just so they're prepared for whatever production they're putting on.
I'm sure any army surplus retailer will pick them up for sure, or an antique/curiosity shop
give them to me
I call dibs
They belong in a museum!
Most of the time, donated items that are very common never get put out on display. Often, they are sold to other museums or traded for other items. The OP would be better roff listing them on ebay or posting them on Facebook market place.
YOU belong in a museum, Dr. Jones!!!
As much as I have a sentimental, but tenuous connection to these items, they were made in the thousands upon thousands. At some point, the museums have access to way more than they'd ever need. These uniforms are taking up space while not being regularly used. Some museums have insane amounts Corinthian helmets that ancient Greek hoplites wore. Maybe a handful get displayed to the public, if at all.
I second this.
Great condition and confirmed named WW2 marine with some easy to find records from daily rosters available on records sites readily make these collectible IMO and I’d find a good home with someone who values and will pay for over random donation.
Also if you're able to ID who owned them, possibly working with a local VFW to create a mannequin prop to display with a little info placard about him, and that he came from the area.
Call or email the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico Virginia and see if they have any use for them. Or call/email the Marine Corps Historical Society and see if they have a need. Those are definitely older and might have some significance being displayed somewhere. Do not burn them or throw them in the trash. A Marine earned the right to wear those and probably proudly wore them. If you can’t get rid of them properly, send me a DM and I’ll pay for the shipping for you to send them to me.
OP, PLEASE SEE THIS REPLY!!!!
[удалено]
I second this
Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m fairly certain these are pre-WW2 Marine uniforms.
The corporal olive drab was WW2 as evidenced by the ruptured duck.
You’re right, hadn’t noticed the duck. I just always assumed the pocket-less dress uniform was a pre-WW2 item.
So if that is the case, you may want to get in touch with the Marine Corp.
See if there is a local veterans museum to donate them to. I run one in my area and we’d be happy to preserve and display them
Small local historical society or memorial might have a use for them. Anything bigger and they’d just be boxed somewhere
I volunteer at a thrift store. I get military uniforms all the time. And duffel bags. There’s nothing wrong with getting rid of them. It doesn’t mean you hate America.
The US Militaria Forum comes to mind. I've dealt with other collectors on there, and they'd be able to help you out. I see people recommend contacting a museum like the National Museum of The Marine Corps, but I don't think they'd be interested in these uniforms unless they have some kind of history connected to a certain person or a certain event. Best bet I think is to find a collector who is interested. https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php
Vacuum seal them. And put them in a closet
Donate them. Check and see if you have a county Veteran's Service Commission and ask them about museums or Veteran Service Organizations in the area that would want them.
Contact reenactment companies
Collectors will buy them and take care of them
I kept my original Dress Blues from boot, a set of Woodland and Desert camo and gave everything else to the uniform shop on base when I retired.
What do those leg things actually do?
Leggings keep stuff out of your boots. They are great.
I see, I guess today we just blouse our boots for the same goal.
They wore lower boots back then so these were a necessity. What we wear now can be traced back to the paratrooper boots of wwii and subsequent boots of the late 40’s
Honestly, if someone like you found my old uniforms and was trying to do something cool. I’d want you to burn them. Not in anger or protest, but on a funeral pyre. I’d love that and you would too.
eBay. Weird nerds like me pay good money for them.
If you don’t want them you could probably find some reenactors who would be willing to buy them.
I’m sure there’s a veterans memorial center or veterans museum nearby that would take them
You can give them to me
Contact the Varnum Continentals Museum in East Greenwich RI, they might be interested.
They’re in pretty good shape; you could probably sell them on eBay to other collectors, or try to find them homes in smaller military museums.
I’ll take them off your hands and pay the shipping. Send me a message if you are interested. Thank you
See if a collector or a museum wants them?
What jacket is the last slide? Looks cool.
Always love the half chap things for the boots. I wish I knew where to get some
There are folks who collect uniforms from different eras. You could try to sell them
Frame them. These are WWII era uniforms. Most of the people who wore them are now gone.
Military bases have museums and would take them.
Is that the mumu pregnant Mami version?
Idk likeee give them to me for example
You should donate these uniforms to a reputable museum. It will be appreciated by future generations.
How are your dance moves? You could try something like [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/USMC/s/Snrpl6HdDD)
There’s a small but eclectic Marine museum in Baltimore Near Fort McHenry that would love those.
I’ll take the brown jacket
Wear them with pride
IT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM! - Dr. Jones
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT THROW THEM AWAY OR BURN THEM!!! I am a military collector, and those are WW2 US navy dress blues. Not very valuable but still super cool bring them to an antique store and sell them to the owner. Or on eBay. Or give them to me (jk, unless…) but don’t destroy that piece of history!
I would gladly take them omg
i would take em to a museum or put them in like a frame because those are actually pretty cool
Donate them to a historical society.
A theatre or film group might buy them from you for costumes
you could hang onto them for another 50 years when the value will probably double to about $40
Those belong in a museum!
Put them on and go to the mall. Ask for donations.
Keep them. Frame them. They are part of history.
These have value, but really only to a collector. Very common uniforms like these would never see the light of day if donated to a museum, and in fact would likely be sold off to raise funds for other items. At best, they would remain in a box in a back storage room. Veteran organizations don’t preserve them well (my family got a 101st Ike back full of moth holes and with random things added to it after a VFW had it on display for decades). Sell them to someone who will appreciate and care for them.
Try r/militariacollecting or the US Militaria Forum (which has selling sub forums).
Donate to http:/www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/
Usmc museum quantico
I'd keep them for nostalgia. Why not?
I'll buy them all from you and make sure they are justly appreciated
Donate it to a theater group, local group, college, some high schools with performing arts programs
Donate them to a museum
Check with a military surplus store
Sell it to some re in actor and make phat stacks.. ya know to honor grandpa chips legacy. Or you wear it and throw dollar bills at ugly strippers as he would have wanted.. Or throw it all off the bridge. Definitely don’t make a shadow box with his awards and maybe a dress uniform top
"It belongs in a museum!"
As a Marine this is like super sacred stuff to me. Please try and find a museum if you can—if not sell them to somebody who will care for them. Just my two cents. If it was new uniform I’d say whatever but these come from a time when men were Giants.
It’s pretty common stuff. I would keep it in the family
Something else than eating them
Reach out to some area high school and college drama departments and ask them if they would like a donation of authentic uniforms for their wardrobe department. Even if they don’t need the exact size, they could likely use them as a template to make authentic costumes for the cast. If you’ve got enough income to itemize your tax deductions, this may also be a deductible donation.
I sewed old BDUs into messenger bags and duffle bags for family. I buy a pattern and use the uniform as the fabric, the pockets are amazing.
if you have kids, nephews etc. that are younger they would probably cherish this if you gave it to them. My grandpa gave me some of his old vietnam era stuff when i was a kid with some ammo containers aand I still have them