The ties between the military and dog tags have been present for well over a hundred years. Beginning in the Civil War, soldiers started to pin their personal information on their uniforms. This was an attempted answer at a huge problem: identification. An astounding 42 percent of all Civil War deaths produced unknown bodies, so families did not know for sure what happened to their loved ones. Hoping to provide their families with closure, these young men pinned and tied small homemade identification tags onto their clothing so that their bodies could be identified in the event they were killed.

These first dog tags were nothing more than scraps of paper, fabric, wood, or metal that had been fashioned into identification tags. However, the magazine Harper’s Bazaar quickly lent itself to popular trend and began selling metal identification discs to the families of soldiers. These discs were pinned to the clothing and held a better chance of survival than their paper or wooden predecessors.

However, it was not until 1899 that dog tags became a topic of debate in the military. A Chaplain determined that metal identification discs should be given to all combat soldiers. Although it was not until 1917 that every combat soldier in the military was given an identification tag, this Chaplain’s foresight would provide many families with information on their loved one’s whereabouts.

The years of World War II saw a change in dog tags and brought with them their unique names. Originally beginning as a joke, the term dog tag drew a parallel between the now-oval identification tags worn by soldiers and the identification tags worn by man’s best friend.

Even though dog tags are typically worn by soldiers, there has been a growing trend that sees the civilian side donning these identification tags. Many individuals choose to wear their loved one’s dog tags, especially during these days of war. Others choose to show their support to the military by wearing patriotic dog tags. Still others just want to include the look into their wardrobe. Since the military style is incredibly popular, with fabrics, colors, and patterns typically associated with military uniforms are making their way down fashion show runways, it is no surprise that dog tags too have made the leap from the military to the civilian world. From the traditional to the glamorous, dog tags are showing up all over red carpet events and dangling around the necks of Hollywood’s hottest celebrities.

If you have dog tags that belong to your loved one who is serving or who has previously served in the military, consider doing something unique with the tags. For example, have the tags framed along with a photograph of your loved one so that he or she will always remember his or her time in service. Many framing shops allow individuals to customize their frames and include a wide variety of memorabilia underneath the glass. This keepsake makes a great gift and is sure to be appreciated by anyone who spent time diligently wearing their dog tags.