Anathema
Crotchety Olde Man
And what's more important the people or the things? What would you rather have, your father's pen or your father?
Will the members of your family 2 or 3 generations from now care about the sentimental souvenir on your shelf?
When you cannot have the person, the value of the pen increases exponentially.
If the family is passing on our history properly, then yes they should place the value on the item. If not then the family is dead in all but name.