Lake County Gazette

An abandoned bank safe deposit box in Illinois contained 11 Purple Heart medals, and state officials are trying to find their rightful owners, according to a report by WGN9 last week.

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs said the medals were left in a bank safe deposit box that not been touched for years, and his office received them through an unclaimed property program.

“These medals personify honor, sacrifice and duty,” Frerichs told WGN9. “They belong in the loving care of families rather than hidden inside our cold basement vault.”

Frerichs posted on Facebook with a list of the names, dates the medal awarded and their hometown. They are as follows: Cawthon, received Nov. 1 1992, Portland, Oregon; Wilson, received Nov. 13, 1995, Chicago; Burns, received Nov. 5, 1997, Homewood; Moore, received Oct. 17, 2001, Peoria; Smith, received Nov. 18, 2002, Oak Park; Gorski, received Oct. 30, 2003, Darien; Tuttle, received Oct. 25, 2018, Decatur; Alexander, received Oct. 26, 2018, Channahon; Isbell or Shayer, received Oct. 31, 2018, Chicago; Steward or Vanhasselaere, received Oct. 31, 2018, Round Lake; and Wiest, received Oct. 23, 2019, O’Fallon.

Reps. Joyce Mason and Steve Reick both took to the internet to spread the word about the medals, which are awarded to soldiers who were injured by an enemy in combat.

“Do you recognize any of the names on this list? If so, please contact Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs so these medals can be returned home,” Mason said on Facebook.

Reick also posted on Facebook, saying, “The state of Illinois needs the public’s help returning 11 Purple Heart medals to their rightful owners. The treasurer’s office received these medals as part of the unclaimed property program after the owners could not be found.”

According to a release by Frerichs, since 2015 the Illinois Treasurer’s Office has reunited seven Purple Hearts with owners or heirs.