As far as wearing pins from "dead people" - it's not like they were pried out of their fingers on their deathbeds.
I personally would be honored to wear a deceased sister's pin if the family returned it to HQ - just like wearing your great grandma's wedding band. She's my sister, after all. And I'd rather the pins were passed on than melted down. Honestly hocnsoc, if everyone thought the same way as you the antique/estate jewelry business would go bust.
Oh, and why did you put a pledge pin in your mouth? I thought you had never pledged anywhere.