I have been reading this thread with interest and one country does things one way and another will do things another way and that I respect totally. For those in the USA that may be interested, surprise, surprise we in the UK and I think the Commonwealth too, do the ex military thing just a wee bit differently. It is just as right and respectful for us in the UK, as your way is in the USA.

I would no more wear my father's Royal Navy tie than fly to the moon----I did not serve in the Royal Navy. Two of my sons would no more wear my regimental tie as they did not serve in the same regiment and I would not wear their respective regimental ties as I did not serve in theirs. My other son has more consideration and served in my old regiment! Now what did he do with my tie? So, for us, if you did not serve in a particular unit you do not even wear the tie, never mind some other form of unit attire, even with civilian connections such as, for example, our Royal Air Force tartan, or your US Marine Corps tartan.

We do things a wee tad differently, but not that much.