We wanted to use this blog to allow you to let other customers know about your experience by posting a customer feedback note. However, the spammers are relentless and have overwhelmed us to the point that we have had to turn off allowing comments for this blog posting.

We truly mean it when we ask you in our shipping notice to let us know how your product suits you. If you are happy, or if you need something resolved, please let us know. Write us at info@designsondemand.com or call 877-860-6847.

Margaret

We’d used a dog tag for years that accepted an imprint on the back. At first we didn’t need to do anything to it for longevity, but then we heard of fading (and replaced those tags) so we began using an automotive engine overspray for protection.

The base aluminum for the tags comes from a huge aluminum plant, so our supplier who coats the white side and stamps out the blank tags has no control or pull with them. Evidently the chemistry of the base aluminum, or some coating of its own, kept changing and we couldn’t foresee when or how to react with a new coating.

So you know, I made up a test solution for our tags that tried to approximate sweating, showering, and all the other factors a tag would get. Let’s see, it was equal parts oil, salt, and acidic vinegar. Anyway, it would show us within a day or so how the backing might react with the human body.

Anyway, we couldn’t foresee a chemical change or find a suitable protective coating that would always work, so we had to switch tag types for our tags that had something on the back. This is about 80% of all the tags we sell. The new tag has a white back which is *made* for imprinting, and it has a bonus in that we can imprint a full color photo on the back, whereas we used to affix a piece of mylar.

Like I said, we have replaced any dog tags made of the first type whose backs faded, but if there are others out there who haven’t contacted us, please do so.

Margaret

Joe and Jane, Forever and Always

You have all my heart. I love you forever and always, your angel

We love you forever with all our heart and soul.

Our Hero   The Lord bless you and keep you safe

I Love You Always   Don’t Ever Forget That, Baby

I love you and miss you every day

I am with you always and forever

I Love You & Miss You Bunches

Be strong and courageous for the Lord will be with you wherever you go.. and so will I

You will always remain my best friend forever

Come Home Safe Dad, We Love You and Miss You

Our Hearts Beat As One

This week we are exhibiting at Operation Homecoming USA in Branson, the welcome home for Vietnam veterans that they never received.

Now, I was a little too young to understand what was going on during Vietnam. Just 11 or so. I never could get my mind around the places and events, although I have learned a lot in recent years as I home school my children and teach some group history classes. I’ve made sure that my own children, and the teens I teach, all pay attention to the news happening around them RIGHT NOW. History is in the making, you know. I do this because of my not understanding Viet Nam at their age.

So this week we are in contact with this large group of veterans. I have to admit that I am very aware of current soldiers’ issues, and with my father as a WWII major, very aware of that war as well. But with no precipitating or galvanizing event for Vietnam, as in Pearl Harbor and 9/11, the Vietnam soldiers have not had my attention previously.

I have been impressed with them this week. The ones who go to the traveling Wall still hold very deep feelings, and I can sense these as they walk by. The beautiful art by Mike Teter entitled Reflections, a living weeping man touching the wall, and some of the fallen soldiers reaching from it to touch him, is really stirring. The Vietnam Veterans Association chapter the artist is from is actually at our event and the workers know him personally. Wow.

Even though there was no event that set off the war, per se, they still gave themselves for our freedoms. Back to our children and other teens: it is unbelievable, in a way, that they have grown up after the Cold War. They have no idea of what it was like or the fear that was everywhere. The freedom to not let the world be overrun by communism is what our soldiers fought for then. It’s not that different from our war on terror today, really.

We’re used to seeing our WWII soldiers turn to old men and pass on. It has struck me this week that the same is beginning to happen to our Vietnam soldiers. 30 years since it was over….I remember WWII veterans 30 years after, in 1975, and how many seemed to be quite old.

I guess I’ll close with this thought: 1945 + 30 = 1975 (WWII - Vietnam) 1975 + 30 = 2005 (Vietnam - Iraq) 2005 + 30 = 2035 (another major war, and our beginning to really honor today’s soldiers?)

We feel so privileged to be in contact with today’s military.

Margaret Scheperle
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