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The Coin of the T-34 Association is here.
This is a heavy duty, top quality unit coin...read on...you don't
want to be the bloke left empty handed at the bar after a long cross
country with your fellow member-pilots, or at the clinic get
together and find your without yours...
The challenge coin is a worldwide,
long-established tradition in the finest military and professional
organizations. It symbolizes not only your membership in a
professional organization, but your brotherhood with your fellow
members -- in some combat units, the unit challenge coin is believed
to bring the holder good luck and mission success.
Thus, the T-34
Challenge Coin is no cheap trinket. It's a symbol of your membership
in one of the finest warbird organizations in the country. And with
that membership, the holder of the Challenge Coin must at all times
uphold the rules governing this historical tradition. Although you
may personalize your coin by etching your call sign or tail number,
you should not otherwise disfigure your coin with such things as
holes drilled to attach strings or necklaces.
You must always carry
the unit Challenge Coin when in the presence of other members, as it
represents your membership in, and commitment to, the brotherhood
that binds this organization. At any time, but generally at the
hotel pub after a long day of flying our warbirds, any member may
"challenge" all T-34 members present, usually by tapping the coin on
the bar. Whereupon, you must promptly produce your unit coin and
join in the chorus of coins, or "buy the round" for being among your
unit without your trusted coin. Never drop your coin accidentally,
for if this is done in earshot of your fellow members, it will be
received as a challenge, and coins will be produced; if all present
have a coin on hand, a future round will be on you.
Such coins have
been produced for most military units, including the Thunderbirds
and almost all Army, Air Office and Navy combat units. The T-34
Challenge Coin - a symbol of our membership, our esprit de corps
and our organizational success.
A "coin check" consists of a
challenge and a response.
Rules
1. The challenge is initiated by
drawing your coin, holding it in the air by whatever means possible
and state, scream, shout or otherwise verbally acknowledge that you
are initiating a coin check. Another, but less vocal method is to
firmly place it on the bar, table, Or floor (this should produce an
audible noise which can be easily heard by those being challenged,
but try not to leave a permanent imprint). If you accidentally drop
your coin and it makes an audible sound upon impact, then you have
just "accidentally" initiated a coin check. (This is called paying
the price for improper care of your coin."
2. The response consists of all those
persons being challenged drawing their coin in a like manner (other
organizational coins are invalid). You must produce a coin with your
unit's logo on it.
3. If you are challenged and are
unable to properly respond, you must buy a round of drinks for the
challenger and the group being challenged.
4. If everyone being challenged
responds in the correct manner, the challenger must buy a round of
drinks for all those people he challenged.
5. Failure to buy a round is a
despicable crime and will require that you turn-in your Coin to the
issuing agency.
6. Coin checks are permitted at any
time and any place.
7. There are no exceptions to the
rules. They apply to those clothed or unclothed. At the time of the
challenge you are permitted one step and an arms reach to locate
your coin.
8. A Coin is a coin. Coins attached
on belt buckles are considered "belt buckles." Coins on key chains
are considered "key chains." Coins placed in a "holder/clasp" and
worn around the neck like a necklace are valid and are considered a
coin.
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