Quote Originally Posted by sydnie7 View Post
A comment was made to the effect of spending money, that is, "buying" the right to wear feathers.

A response was that, for some, the right to wear feathers is hereditary (like a title). In that case, the cost of the right to wear feathers is the cost of losing one's father.

I'm only stepping in to explain because those two were last seen headed for the bar, at MoR's invitation
In addition the cost of some military honors, such as the hackles, was purchased with the blood and dead of earlier generations in the regiments.