GENEVA, IL (Chambana Today) – A long-lost Purple Heart medal will finally make its way back to the family of a late World War II veteran, thanks to Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and his ongoing effort to reunite families with cherished military honors.
The ceremony will take place on Thursday, June 12, at 11 a.m., at American Legion Post 75, 22 S. 2nd St., Geneva. Media are invited to attend.
This marks the 14th Purple Heart returned by Frerichs through Operation Purple Heart, a statewide initiative that works to recover and return military medals found in abandoned safe deposit boxes. These items come to the Treasurer’s Office through the Unclaimed Property program, also known as I-CASH.
The Purple Heart is one of the nation’s oldest and most revered military awards, given to those wounded or killed in combat.
“This isn’t just about returning a medal,” Treasurer Frerichs said. “It’s about restoring a piece of a family’s legacy and honoring the sacrifice of a veteran who served our country.”
Thursday’s ceremony will include a color guard, a display of the medal, and family photos. The late veteran’s grandson, who also served in the military, will speak at the ceremony.