Stepfather's purple heart

My stepfather, former USMC (WWII and Korea) passed a few years ago. My mom held onto all his stuff. She's now in a nursing home, after being in ICU and having brain surgery, likely going on hospice soon. Going through her stuff, I found stepfather's purple heart medal/ribbon.

I've been giving all of his stuff to my estranged stepbrother because all of my stepfather's stuff should remain on that side of the family. My stepbrother did not want the purple heart, likely because I was also in the Marine Corps. He and the rest of that family have no military links.

I have no idea what to do with the medal/ribbon other than stick it in a drawer to let it collect dust. Any suggestions short of donating it to a surplus store? Just seems sad that it is just a forgotten thing at some point.

 

Perhaps you can donate it with the name and details of your stepfather to a local VFW, USMC recruiting station or similar organization for them to display in their building?

 

Thanks. I thought of that too, possibly even with a pic of him from WWII, almost like a shadowbox or framed thing with all of it there

 

Unfortunately, while i respected him for his service, we did not have a warm/fuzzy relationship at all. Plus, i have my own shadowbox and USMC stuff on display. I may donate it with the certificate to the Marine Corps League location that I'm a member of.

 

Does your town have a military museum?

 

This.