I don’t know about you but the Super Bowl spot featuring Johnny Cash’s “Ragged Old Flag” and Kyle Carpenter was a tearjerker for us. I am still thinking about it several weeks later. The visual walk through of American strength and resilience honored both everyday Americans and the sons and daughters who fight in our military. 

Thinking about the sacrifices that have been made for our freedoms is something I know I need to be reminded of more often. Every day military men and women are working to protect our freedoms. 

We are truly blessed.

I think that is why I love our carved 3D military wall art so much. Each time I make one it reminds me of the brave military men, women, sons and daughters, friends and comrades that have given so much.

We all know there is so much more to military life than putting on a uniform. It is doing hard things. And for those who have done hard things side-by-side with others in the military, the bond is steadfast and ever-present. The United States military has the unique ability to define brotherhood and sisterhood, not in words, but in actions. Every day, military men and women are challenged together and those challenges build lifelong bonds that are embodied in each military emblem. 

Why Military Wall Art

Most of us put art on our walls because it makes us happy. We like to show our uniqueness. And it gives us something to talk about. People look at your wall art and ask “why that piece?” or “what does that mean to you?”

That may be one of the reasons I love our 3D wall art  — because it can be configured in infinite ways so no two are alike. You can show your pride in style. And it starts some interesting conversations. The beautiful thing about military wall art is that it becomes a unique reminder of the sacrifices people have made and are making for us every single day. And, for those who are serving or have served it reminds them of why they sacrificed and “embraced the suck.”

When choosing where to place your military masterpiece make sure you find a wall that isn’t too big (and overwhelms the wall art) or too small (and makes the art feel out of place). Carved 3D wall art gives your area some visual weight and texture makes the room feel finished. 

A Quick History of the United States Military 

There is a lot of backstory to the military wall art we make and we enjoy discovering the history of each piece. Here is a quick rundown of what we discovered.

The United States Military has five branches: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. They are united under one cause – the protection of the United States and each citizen’s freedom.

The Army

The Army is the oldest with roots in the Continental Army that was formed in 1775 during the Revolutionary War. After the Revolutionary War the Continental Army disbanded and was replaced by the United States Army. The Army is the land-based branch of the military and exists to serve the American people. 

Here is a fun fact we didn’t know – Army National Guard soldiers have dual status. They serve as National Guardsmen under the authority of the state governor or territory and as reserve members of the U.S. Army under the authority of the President. 

The Army badges represent the accomplishments of soldiers as they serve our country. It can show special skills and rank. And there are a lot of them.

The Navy

America has a long seafaring tradition. The colonies had many sailors and shipbuilders. During the Revolutionary War, many states had their own navies. Rhode Island was the first to propose a larger navy to the Continental Congress because Rhode Island smugglers were losing so much money from being blockaded by  British ships. While the Continental Congress was discussing, George Washington just went out and started buying ships with his own money. (Now that is decisive action!)

Finally, in October of 1775, the Continental Congress ordered ships to be built and purchased. After the Revolutionary War the Navy ships were sold and the Navy disbanded as the new United States struggled to make money. To help reduce smuggling, the forerunner of the Coast Guard, the Revenue-Marines were created to patrol American ports and shores. Pirates were a problem though. They kept seizing American ships in the Atlantic. 

In 1794, Congress authorized the building of six frigates, the most famous of these is the USS Constitution or “Old Ironsides”. Between 1794 and 1865, the United States Navy was a major factor in almost every war the United States was involved in. But after the Civil War, the Navy went into a decline. Most ships were decommissioned or not capable of protecting the United States against more advanced ships. 

In 1882, the “new” Navy was built that would be capable of protecting American citizens against foreign attacks.  And in 1899, the Navy officially adopted “The Star Spangled Banner” for official use, long before the song would become our beloved national anthem. That was pretty smart. 

The Marines

The United States Marines was established in 1775 to aid naval forces during the Revolutionary War. The recruiting office was set up in Tun Tavern on Water Street in Philadelphia by Captain Samuel Nicholas. The Marines were abolished at the close of the Revolutionary War back when a government budget was important.

But in 1798, the Marines were again called into service and put under the command of the Secretary of the Navy. November 10th is celebrated as the start of the Marines and a replica cake of Tun Tavern is traditionally the dessert of choice. Also worthy of note – the “Semper Fi” motto is one of the most recognizable in the military and even beats some brands. It means “always faithful” and has endured since it emerged as the motto in 1883. 

The Air Force

The Air Force’s varied and complicated naming history started in 1902 when it was known as the U.S. Army Signal Corps. After approving the first airplane, the Wright Flyer, in 1909 the first aviators began training in 1913. With World War I came a name change and expansion. Now known as the Air Service of the U.S. Army, it grew into a powerhouse, with 185 aero squadrons and over 178,000 enlisted men. But after WWI armistice, the Air Service was quickly demobilized. Its name was again changed to Air Corps in 1926 but continued to stay small until about 1939 when rumblings in Europe began to be a concern. 

After Hitler conquered a large swath of Europe, the Air Corps ramped up their strength and was a key part of the victory over Germany in World War II. Now a major military organization, the War Department eventually removed the Air Signal Corps from under the Department of the Army.

In 1947,  the Department of the Air Force was created as its own military branch with its current motto: “Aim High. Air Force.” Like its name the Air Force motto has had a long and changeable history. The one they keep coming back to is “Aim High.”  We hope they keep their name for awhile too. They have had a lot of name changes in the last 100 or so years. 

The Coast Guard

Many people might not know that the Coast Guard is part of the United States military branches. It is older than even the official “new” Navy! And the Coast Guard has served in every one of our nation’s conflicts. When it was commissioned in 1790 by the first congress it was created to enforce federal tariffs and prevent smuggling because the newly created United States couldn’t afford a permanent Navy.  

Like the Air Force, it had various names in the early years – Revenue Marine and Revenue Cutter Service. In 1915, Congress merged the Revenue Cutter Service with the Life-Saving Service and together they became the Coast Guard. 

The newly merged Coast Guard’s mission was to save lives and serve as a homeland marine security force protecting our shores from enemies. In 1939, the President gave the Coast Guard the responsibility to operate and maintain our nation’s Lighthouses. The Coast Guard now operates under the Department of Homeland security and protects our nation’s shores along with saving lives. 

How Our Carved 3D Art is Made

Starting Blank for a Marine Corp Logo

Every  piece I make is unique and can be customized to represent the person or military branch you want to honor. 

It starts with a group of computer programmers that make the models. I can order something specific from them if needed. When I get the model then I can change it to exactly what you want. It can be combined with other models or I can crop sections of models. Enlarge or shrink as needed. After it is carved I through it all by hand and clean/smooth the rough areas. 

Roughed In Logo, Ready to cut loose from blank and finish

You decide what type of wood to use. Each type of wood changes the look. And if you want to add a name or message is easy to add space for text or put text on the back. For those who have received military honors personalized wall art with their badge and insignia would be an excellent gift. We also have talented painters that can add color to your military wall art or you can keep its natural wood grain.

Off of Machine and ready for stain or paint and clear coat

We love to create military wall art.  It is a lasting way to show your pride and connection to our country and honor the heroes who protect it every day. With over 1500 military seals, badges, insignia’s, medals, flags, and crests that can be combined, military wall art is uniquely personal. 

Stain versus Painted on the Dog Tags

The process for getting started is easy. You can contact us by phone, email, text or Facebook messenger with all the details of your piece. 

Turn your military pride into wall art. 

Shop Our Military Wall Art Here

May God continue to bless America!!