CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois officials hope to return
nearly 200 forgotten war medals and other military artifacts to their rightful
owners.
Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford announced the
project — called Operation Reunite — on Friday, Veterans Day.
Former Illinois State Rep. Ron Stephens, a Highland
Republican and a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient, is the project's
honorary chairman.
The treasurer's office takes care of the military
artifacts, storing them in a vault beneath the Capitol.
Many items ended up there because they were stored
in a family safety deposit box and forgotten. Banks eventually turn over the
contents of neglected safety deposit boxes to the treasurer's office.
A list of names connected to the medals, dog tags,
ribbons and service records is available on the treasurer's website.
Copyright
2011 The Associated Press.
