Hail and Farewell Gift Ideas for the Unit (and What to Engrave on Them)

A hail and farewell is not a retirement ceremony. It is smaller, it happens more often, and it usually covers more than one person at a time — the unit "hails" incoming soldiers and "farewells" outgoing ones in the same event, often over food and a few speeches. Because it happens so regularly, the gifts tend to be simpler and the budget usually comes out of a unit fund instead of one person's wallet. That does not mean the gift has to be forgettable.

What makes a good hail and farewell gift

Three things matter more here than at a retirement: turnaround time, per-person cost, and how well it works bought in a batch. A platoon farewelling three soldiers at once needs three gifts that do not each require a custom design meeting. Something with a simple, repeatable engraving — name, unit, dates — that can be ordered as a set works better than one elaborate piece.

Gift ideas that fit the occasion

  • Engraved whiskey glasses. Cheap enough per unit to buy for several soldiers at once, and they get used the same night at the farewell. See our engraved whiskey glasses at $14.99 each.
  • Slate coasters. A set of four per soldier, engraved with name and unit, works as a going-away gift that survives the move better than most keepsakes. See our slate coaster sets.
  • Leatherette patches. If the unit already has hats or bags it hands out, a custom engraved patch turns a plain item into a keepsake without much added cost. See our leatherette patches at $5.99 — the lowest-cost option on this list and an easy add for a whole platoon.
  • A bamboo serving board. A step up for someone who was especially central to the unit, without moving into custom-quote territory. See our bamboo serving board.

For anything the whole unit wants to go in on together, browse our military unit gifts collection — it is built around exactly this kind of group purchase.

Wording that works for a farewell (not a retirement)

Farewell wording is looser than retirement wording. It can be a little more casual, and it does not need a full service record on it — the person is not done serving, just moving on. Some real examples:

  1. SSG MILLER — 3-6 CAV — FAREWELL AND GOOD LUCK
  2. TO SFC ADAMS, FROM THE SOLDIERS OF ALPHA CO — 2023–2026
  3. GOODBYE AND GODSPEED — SGT PARKER
  4. 1LT DAVIS — THANKS FOR THE LEADERSHIP — 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION (LI)
  5. PCS'ING BUT NOT FORGOTTEN — CPT ROSS
  6. FROM FORT DRUM TO WHEREVER'S NEXT — SFC HUGHES
  7. HAIL AND FAREWELL — WELCOME 1SG BENNETT, FAREWELL 1SG YOUNG
  8. TO OUR OUTGOING PLATOON SERGEANT, SSG COOPER — GOOD HUNTING
  9. 2-87 INFANTRY BIDS FAREWELL TO SGT REED
  10. SEE YOU AT THE NEXT DUTY STATION — SGM FLETCHER

Notice #7 handles a combined hail-and-farewell on a single piece — useful if the unit wants one item that names both the incoming and outgoing soldier instead of buying two separate gifts.

Ordering for the whole unit

If you are the one collecting cash from the platoon or planning the FRG's contribution, a few tips: order early, even for a casual event — we ship within 14 business days, and a hail and farewell date does not always move the way a change of command date does. Second, ask about a bulk order if you are buying five or more of the same item; we welcome bulk orders and can quote a per-unit price for a matching set. Third, if your unit wants something beyond what is in the catalog — a growler, a knife, a customer-supplied tumbler — that is a custom job, not a stock product, so get a quote with enough lead time for a proof and a revision if needed.

A hail and farewell does not need to be elaborate to be remembered. Get the name and unit right, keep the engraving legible, and pick something that survives a duffel bag better than a card does.

Get a Quote

Little Lab Co. — 25248 East Gotham Road, Watertown, NY 13601. Call or text (315) 783-0159, or email littlelabco@outlook.com.

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