A shadow box is an enclosed case used in diorama

Diorama

The word diorama can either refer to a nineteenth century mobile theatre device, or, in modern usage, a three-dimensional full-size or miniature model, sometimes enclosed in a glass showcase for a museum...

s with a scene or object(s) that has been specially designed to let light pass through from only one angle, so that objects within are less susceptible to damage from light.

They are typically presented to members of the military upon retirement

Retirement

Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...

. These shadow boxes will usually contain the various medal

Medal

A medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...

s and award

Award

An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons...

s a person has earned through a military career, the flag

Flag

A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...

 of both their country

Country

A country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with a previously...

 and military service, and their final badge of rank

Military rank

Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...

.

In the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, some companies specialize in the construction and sale of shadow boxes. Price can range from just a few dollar

Dollar

The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...

s to several hundred. People often purchase these in order to preserve, and still enjoy memorabilia. A similar case, called the uniform display case

Display case

A display case is a cabinet with one or often more transparent glass sides and/or top, used to display objects for viewing, for example in an exhibition, museum, house, in retail, or a restaurant. Often labels are included with the displayed objects, providing information...

, displays an entire uniform with correct insignia placement.

Some shadow boxes are constructed using colored paper or cardboard. They are typically given away as an interesting alternative to more standard greeting cards. Like the traditional, military shadow boxes, paper counterparts also feature some form of window or cut out to expose dioramas, illustrations or other contents within

During the retirement ceremony and certainly upon retirement many members of the military, particularly in the naval service, utilize the lift out trays found in antique trunks as their shadow box. Some retirees also maximize the space found in these trunks by also incorporating shadow boxes in the lid compartment as well. An added benefit by having a shadow box in an antique trunk is all of the storage space for uniforms, hats, photograph albums, and any other service memorabilia collected over the years. Here are photographic examples of how an antique trunk can be re-utilized as a combination shadow box and storage trunk for uniforms and other memorabilia. http://www.thepirateslair.com/antique-trunks/navy-retirement-shadow-box.html