In preparing for a Veterans Day Commemorative for 2025, we sat down with several of our employees who have served with our nation’s military branches to invite their input on what they thought the knife could look like and what it might say to those who would become recipients.
The stories of their lives in uniform were thoughtful, thought-provoking, and inspiring. Yet we found it challenging to reach a unified message in a single knife design that would honor the legacies of past lives while also serving generations whose futures are still taking shape in our ever-evolving world.
As the project progressed we came to realize that, while memories of our past may be resistant to change, the future is always subject to change. Ultimately, our veterans composed a message of unity that connects the past with a promise for tomorrow.
That philosophy forged a foundation for our 2025 Case Veterans Day commemorative. The knife begins with our traditional smooth natural bone-handled Trapper, equipped with embellished stainless steel Clip and Spey blades, polished nickel-silver bolsters and a Case pewter shield at center. The embellished handle image is known as a “Battlefield Cross,” an American symbol for a soldier’s courage and selfless regard for others when making the ultimate sacrifice in war.
The engraved image of the poppy on the knife’s pocket end bolster also serves as a reminder of military personnel who gave their lives to an unforgiving war. Poppies were known to recover in the fields of Europe where World War I’s devastation had seemingly wiped them out. Today the dark red flower is recognized as a symbol of the resilience of the human spirit and the hope for a brighter future for all the world.
The knife is set inside a jewelry-style gift box, along with a special challenge coin. The phrases “Thank you for your service” and “Honor – Courage – Sacrifice” are minted along the top and bottom edges of the coin’s face, and an image of a saluting soldier at center.
Zippo is also honoring our veterans this year by offering a coordinating special edition 540 Color lighter that bears the same inspiring imagery found on the limited edition Case knife.
As an additional show of support to our veterans, Zippo and Case are collaborating on an “11/11” Veterans Day campaign, which awards 11% of the proceeds from each knife and lighter sold to L.E.E.K. Hunting & Mountain Preserve. LEEK Preserve is a special lodge nestled in our foothills just a few miles outside of Bradford.
Your purchase of these special Case knives and Zippo lighters will help further LEEK’s mission to provide an accessible and therapeutic outdoor retreat for wounded United States veterans. It will also bolster LEEK’s unique programs which aid in renewing a veteran’s sense of belonging with others as well as a connection with the beauty in nature found throughout our local hollows and forest lands.
In remembrance of all our fallen heroes, we thank you for your support for veterans everywhere!