Awards from living recipients

[RedMaestro2]

Presumably, the recipients of most medals in our collections have passed away. Or perhaps if they are still alive, they live in unreachable obscurity. But what if they are alive, well, active, and even online?

Does anyone own the awards of a living veteran/former Soviet citizen? How did this come to be? What communication, if any, was made between collector and recipient? How did it resolve?

Any stories would be great to hear!

[CtahhR]

There are lots of stories over the years of members of the forum buying from and having in their hands the awards of living folk.

Just on Saturday I got my hands on a giant (not counted but certainly over 100 items) group to a famous Soviet sports personality. This is not even the full set of awards to this person as all of the "top end" of the collection is missing (probably retained). I don't know the situation behind the "lightening" of the collection but if I do manage to communicate with the person in question mentioning the fact I have a vast pile of their awards will not be an issue I bring up any time soon.

I have had many items from not only alive but somewhat "known" and online persons before and I haven't asked any of them why they got rid of anything I have for many reasons but mainly because there is most likely going to be a sorry story behind the fact they don't have their items any more. It may be because they were starving or it may be that they just don't care for the items but either way that's not the happiest tale.

There are of course other situations. I am holding some items in the collection for some people who may or may not decide later that they want to wear the awards again but that is always a personal matter between myself and that other person.