I have a set of 113 patches from USCG, Police, Fire plus 7 Boy Scout patches each of which features a lighthouse. I stopped collecting them a couple of years ago.

All the patches are mounted on 8x30" black foam core board (with rubber cement - so can be removed easily and without damage.) These would look great in black metal section frames and hung around the top of walls in my office -- but I haven't bought the frames yet.

Here are some examples of the mounted boards:


US Coast Guard Patches


Police, Fire, EMS, Mounted etc Patches


Boy Scout Order of the Arrow Pocket Flap Patches

The Scout patches are the most beautiful patches I've ever seen. Very dense stitching with the name and year of the lighthouse included. They are limited editions, made a few years ago and no longer available. They picture the working lighthouses of North Carolina. Here are two close-ups:


Cape Lookout


Oak Island

WOW ... they are great! Thanks for showing them.
I wish our "officialdom" would get this creative

They're very nice John, thanks for sharing.

As NELL merchandise co-chair I can't pass up this opportunity. If anyone collects patches and is interested in a patch from NELL they can be viewed on our website www.nell.cc Just scroll down to patches and decals click on it and there they are. If you're interested please feel free to contact me via the forum or my email address: regalhobo@msn.com

Neat idea John. I like how you've mounted them. Gives me some ideas for the plethora of patches I have floating around here.

You go Tom!

Shirin, you should contact Linda G from NELL. She makes what she calls an old fashioned bell pull for all our event pins. I just received mine in todays mail and asked her at hot choc. if she was still doing them. If your going to Boone Isle let me know and I'll bring it so you can see it.

Thanks Tom - I have seen Linda's bellpulls. Just waiting on getting my own sewing machine to make something of a similar nature for the pins I have to go along with the patches.

On the bus trip pre/post reunion, Cyne and I had a conversation about how to display pins. She mentioned that some people were using bellpulls. Tom, can you post a picture of yours? Sounds like a neat idea!

John,that's a very impressive collection; I agree that the BS patches are particularly nice looking

I'll be happy to Grace. I just received it a couple of days ago and have to find all my pins but first I have to get some orders out. If you can give me a day or so and then I have to read on how to post a picture. I have all the info and did my avatar so I don't think it'll be to difficult.

Grace here are two pictures of the pin bell pull -- first one is on a door and the second on a wall. I got these from Linda, the lady that makes them. I figured it would be faster than my taking them etc. If anyone is interested you can contact me for further information. I know she sells them for $30 with a portion of that ($5.00)going to lighthouse preservation. I m not sure if this price includes shipping so I won't say for now. Hope this helps.



to fix link

Thanks again Dave.

Very nice. Thanks, Tom, that helps a lot. It's easier for me if I can see samples of what others have done.

Your welcome Grace and I know wjhat you mean.