Urn Medallions and Headstone Emblems

What Are Urn Medallions and Memorial Appliques?

Urn medallions are flat decorative plaques — typically two to four inches in diameter — that adhere to the front of a cremation urn, headstone, grave marker, casket, or mausoleum niche to create a personalized tribute. They serve the same purpose as emblems for headstones and markers that families have used for generations: a small, lasting symbol that says something true about the person being remembered. At Memorials.com, our collection spans over 650 designs across religious, military, sports, hobby, fraternal, and photo categories, in materials from brass to hand-painted enamel.

Types of Medallions and Emblems

Religious Medallions are the largest category in our collection, covering Christian, Catholic, nondenominational, and interfaith designs. Options include praying hands, crucifixes, guardian angels, the Madonna, doves in flight, Celtic crosses, and verse-based appliques inscribed with phrases like "Rest in Peace" and "Footprints." Families who choose religious urns often pair the urn with a matching religious medallion for a cohesive memorial presentation. Our religious cremation urn guide covers how to match urn style and symbolism to a family's faith tradition.

Military and Veteran Emblems honor those who served in every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and National Guard — as well as conflict-specific designs for Vietnam, Korea, World War II, and Desert Storm veterans. Our emblems for grave markers in the military category feature branch insignia, rank designations, or service ribbons. These appliques work equally well on a military urn or placed directly on a headstone. See our military veteran cremation urn guide for a full overview of honoring a veteran's service through memorial products.

Sports and Hobby Emblems capture a loved one's passions — from golf, football, baseball, and basketball to fishing, hunting, music, firefighting, law enforcement, and more. These memorial emblems let families create a tribute that reflects a specific personality rather than a generic sentiment. Browse our full range of sport urns alongside sport medallions to build a coordinated memorial. Our hobby and themed urn guide explores how families choose products that reflect a loved one's defining interests.

Fraternal and Civic Emblems recognize membership in organizations like the Freemasons, Elks Lodge, Eagles, Rotary Club, Lions Club, and Boy Scouts of America. These designs speak to a life of community involvement and service, and they make meaningful additions to any memorial surface.

Photo and Custom Appliques include oval and rectangular photo-frame medallions that can be personalized with a photograph of the deceased. These are a popular complement to photo urns and work well on grave markers where families want a visual likeness alongside the name and dates.

Materials and Finishes

Medallion materials affect both durability and appearance. Brass is the most common base, offering a warm gold tone that weathers well outdoors on headstones and grave markers. Silver-plated and 24-karat gold-plated options add a more formal, polished look suited to display urns and mausoleum niches. Marble medallions provide a classic, natural stone aesthetic for traditional memorials. Enamel-coated metal allows for detailed full-color artwork — sports emblems and hobby appliques typically use enamel to reproduce vibrant logos and imagery. Pewter finishes offer a matte, antique character preferred for rustic or nature-themed memorials.

Choosing and Attaching a Medallion

Every memorial medallion in our collection ships with pressure-sensitive adhesive that bonds firmly to flat and lightly curved surfaces — no tools required. When choosing a design, consider these factors:

Size: Most appliques range from 1.5 to 4 inches. Larger designs work best on headstones and full-size urns; smaller options suit keepsake urns and travel pieces.

Surface: Smooth, painted, or polished surfaces bond best. Stone, wood, and metal all accept the included adhesive without additional preparation.

Theme alignment: A single well-chosen urn medallion often carries more meaning than multiple competing symbols. Match the design to the person's most central identity — faith, service, or passion.

Personalization: For families who want text alongside imagery, our engraved urn nameplates can be paired with a matching medallion on the same urn. Our urn engraving guide covers inscription options, font choices, and layout considerations when combining text and appliques on the same surface.

Free Shipping on All Urn Medallions

Every urn medallion and memorial applique at Memorials.com ships free, with no minimum order. Orders placed before 2 PM EST on business days typically ship same day. If you need assistance selecting the right emblem for a headstone, urn, or grave marker, our customer service team is available seven days a week. We also carry the full range of cremation urns if you're looking to coordinate an urn and applique together.