SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The State of Illinois is trying to reunite over 100 military medals with their owners.
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is reminding military families that the treasurer’s office holds more than 100 military medals and ribbons that were surrendered as unclaimed property.
He said the medals, typically forgotten inside a bank safe deposit box or abandoned at a storage facility, were surrendered to the state treasurer’s office after there had been no contact with their owners for at least five years.
“Memorial Day is a time to honor the sacrifices of our military members and their families,” Frerichs said. “These medals are a daily reminder of the sacrifices that others have made for our country and it is important that these special honors are reunited with their proper owners.”
Since 2015, Frerichs has returned seven Purple Heart Medals, along with other military medals and paperwork.
Frerichs said military medals and ribbons are never auctioned and are kept until the owners or family members are found.
The Illinois treasurer’s office is the custodian of unclaimed property including lost bank accounts, insurance policy proceeds, and forgotten safe deposit boxes. Items are surrendered after private entities tried for at least five years to locate the owners. Because thousands of items are surrendered two times a year, residents should check I-Cash every six months.
Those who want to see if they or a family member has unclaimed property can visit www.illinoistreasurer.gov/ICASH. Frerichs’ office does not charge money to search or return unclaimed property.
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