Veterans and their families have the right to honor military service through official medals and awards. Whether lost, never received, or simply needed for display or remembrance, these honors can be requested from the U.S. military at no cost.
Veterans or their next of kin (spouse, parent, sibling, or child)
Applies to all branches of service
Must provide proof of service and relationship (if applicable)
For Veterans or Next of Kin:
*Each military branch processes its own medal requests – be sure to send it to the right one!
Submit a request directly through the National Archives eVetRecs system:
Request Medals Online
6–12 weeks on average, though time may vary by branch and request type.
Replacement medals are typically free of charge.