Are there REALLY programs in place whereby you could request the badge of a deceased relative, or is this just wishful thinking? Two things make this seem very unlikely to me.
First of all, very few organizations use a consistent numbering or identification scheme, particularly on the more modern badges. To use SAI as an example, the modern goldfilled badges from this group are seldom inscribed with any indentification whatsoever. The only thing I typically see on newer badges is the maker's mark and possibly a manufacturer's serial number. No name. No chapter. No date. No membership or rollbook number. No chance of tracing it back to the original owner.
Second, knowing what I know about the national HQs of many GLOs, I find it very hard to believe any of them are organizaed well enough and/or have the resources to successfully offer such a program. OK, I'm sure if you made a special request, then one of your sisters or brothers could probably do some digging and maybe come up with something. But as a collector I've tried many many times to get basic information from HQs about particular pins or particular alumni. Sometimes they tell me they aren't allowed to give out that info (OK fine), but most of the time they sigh and admit they just aren't set up to do that kind of research. Their computerized databases only go back to around 1990, and prior to that they only have access to the same published directories as you do. Trouble with the published directories is, they are seldom ever cross referenced by membership number. Even assuming they could match up the number to the member, do they really have storage areas where the badges are all neatly indexed according to membership number so they can be easily found? I seriously doubt it. More likely all these badges are in huge piles on shelves in the basement, never to be seen again.
Please correct me if I'm wrong about this.
IvySpice made a great point (actually I thought her whole post was right on the money):
Quote:
|
A pin may do more to remind people about brotherhood and create goodwill for a GLO in a collector's display than it would as the seven thousandth identical pin stored in the GLO's headquarters.
|
Amen to that! These pins have souls and lives of their own. It is much better for them to be viewed and cherished in a collector's case than wasting away in a dark basement.
wptw