A Military retirement gift is a great way to honor the service of an armed forces member and give thanks for the sacrifices they have endured for our country’s freedom. Whether they were in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard, these gift ideas will show your appreciation and be cherished for years to come.
Bring a smile to their face with a custom lighter:
These must-have lighters feature easy open flip tops, a wind proof design, and are made in the U.S.A. With a design for every branch, any retiring Veteran will greatly appreciate this practical gift.
If they like to read, get them a book that has a Veteran’s seal of approval!

Navigate to the recommended military books page of VetFriends.com to find a long list of Veteran suggested books, their full synopses, and even ISBN numbers to help you find them with ease. Many of these are written by retired service members as well, so you’ll be supporting Veteran authors with this retirement gift!
Show a small token of your appreciation with a hat/lapel pin that proudly displays their Military Service:

With hundreds of design options for these highly detailed metal pins, the perfect retirement gift is just one click away!
Honor their service with an authentic set of custom dog tags:

Featuring notched or standard design options, these are a nostalgic reminder of their time in uniform. Each set includes 2 standard size U.S. Military Dog Tags, 2 free attachable rubber silencers + a chain set.
Give them the gift of community with a VetFriends.com Lifetime Membership (which comes with free gifts!):

For a one time fee of $97, you can get your retiring loved one a lifetime membership that provides uninterrupted access to our Veteran connection site, use of our 100% Guaranteed Public Records Name Match Tool, an official ID card (more about that can be found below), and much more! It also comes with free gifts including a set of personalized military dog tags, a detailed branch lapel pin, an embroidered hat, and a veteran license plate frame. Learn more about memberships here.
Help them show their Service Pride with a Flag to put up outside / hang up in the Garage:

These large 3×5 ft. Oxford/Polyester flags are printed on one-side for outdoor/indoor use. With vivid colors and detail, they will stand out on your lawn, in your home, and more. Reinforced with two metal grommets for added durability. Design options for every branch!
Gift them a watch featuring their branch’s logo and genuine leather straps:
These beautifully crafted watches feature a brass case and genuine leather wrist strap. The face of the watch shows the Branch crest and displays the date. This will keep your retiring Veteran loved one looking sharp while honoring their service!
Set up a reunion for them!

This requires more work, but is one of the most meaningful things you can do for a loved one who served in the armed forces. All you really need is a meeting place and a guestlist – which you can set up in just a few steps with the help of VetFriends.com! After signing up for an account, simply navigate to our reunions calendar, input the details of the reunion, and watch as the guestlist fills up!
Get them a classic Veteran/Military Pride Hat:

Every Veteran needs at least one baseball cap honoring their service, and there’s no better time to receive one than as a retirement gift! All caps are fully adjustable, one size fits all. Hundreds of designs to choose from!
Help them proudly display their branch with a unique car decal/sticker:
With vibrant colors, easy-peel backing, and a plethora of designs, this is the perfect retirement gift for any Veteran who wants to show their service pride wherever they go.
Gift them a traditional challenge coin that’s personal to their service years:

These brass challenge coins are a perfect pocket size of 1.75”. With hundreds of vibrant designs and detailed images, these make excellent collector’s items and have a long history in the military (which you can read about here).
Get them hundreds of dollars’ worth of savings with a VetFriends Veteran ID Card:

Our Veteran ID card comes with exclusive benefits from companies like Dell and AT&T and can also be immensely helpful in proving Veteran status to other businesses that offer Veteran discounts. For a full list of businesses that offer Veteran discounts throughout the country or in your specific state, click here.