Lest We Forget: Honoring Those Who Came Before Us — and Those Who Will Follow

There are moments in history that define nations, generations, and individuals. But more often, it is the people—quietly serving, enduring, and sacrificing—who define them most.

The Tribute Program at Military Insignia Products (MIP) exists for one reason:
to ensure that service is remembered, respected, and carried forward.

Not just the famous battles.
Not just the well-documented units.
But the individuals—across eras, roles, and responsibilities—who stood their watch.

Remembering Those Who Came Before Us

From ancient formations to modern battlefields, military service has always carried the same weight: duty before self. Long before modern uniforms, technology, or doctrine, others stood in formation, held the line, and answered the call.

The Tribute Program honors that lineage.
It acknowledges that today's service members stand on foundations built by those who came before them—many of whom never received recognition beyond their own time.

Lest we forget, their sacrifices shaped the freedoms, institutions, and protections we now take for granted.

Honoring Those Who Serve Today

Service has evolved, but its cost has not disappeared. Today's soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardians, and marines operate in a complex, rapidly changing battlespace—often unseen, often misunderstood, and frequently unrecognized.

The Tribute Program is not tied to a single war, branch, or job. It is intentionally era-agnostic and role-inclusive, recognizing that combat arms, combat support, and support roles all contribute to mission success.

Every role mattered.
Every role still matters.

Acknowledging Those Who Will Follow

Perhaps most importantly, the Tribute Program looks forward.

Future generations will serve in environments we can only partially imagine. Their tools will change. Their uniforms will change. But the core values—service, discipline, sacrifice, and responsibility—will remain the same.

By honoring the past and present, we set an example for those who will one day step forward. We show them that service is not forgotten once the uniform is removed, and that their place in the long line of military history is respected.

Why the Tribute Program Matters

The Tribute Program is not about trends or mass production. It is about continuity.

Each design and product is created with intention—meant to endure, to be worn or displayed with pride, and to serve as a reminder that military service is part of something larger than any one individual or era.

This is remembrance with purpose.
This is respect without exaggeration.
This is acknowledgment without condition.

Lest we forget those who came before us — and those who will follow on.