Treasurer Stacy Garrity: Military Decoration Returns Inspire Other States to Connect with Veterans

Harrisburg, PA - Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity today shared that the Pennsylvania Treasury Department's robust efforts to return military decorations and memorabilia have inspired at least one other state to develop its own program to honor Veterans and their families.

"I'm thrilled that the work we're doing to honor Veterans and their families here in Pennsylvania has inspired others to do the same. Each piece is a priceless part of someone's story and returning them is one way to show our gratitude for the sacrifice of the Veteran who earned them."

Following a presentation about the military decoration initiative by Treasury's Vault Division Manager, Lori Hetrick and Assistant Director of Unclaimed Property Karen Gurzenda, at a National Association of State Treasurers conference, Massachusetts' Office of State Treasurer and Receiver General connected with Treasury to start their own initiative. They successfully launched their search for Purple Heart recipients after returning their first medal in August.

"It is a true honor to be able to return lost military medals to our nation's heroes and their families. This work has been incredibly meaningful for my office, and we know how much it matters to those who are reunited with an important part of their history."

Since taking office in 2021, Treasurer Garrity has returned 533 military decorations and memorabilia. Of the more than 500 medals returned, Treasurer Garrity has returned 13 Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars and one Gold Star Widows and Mothers Pilgrimage Medal.

Treasury launched its online military decoration database in 2018 and since that time, 831 military decorations and memorabilia have been returned.

The database is updated regularly to reflect new decorations that come to Treasury's vault. Most of the nearly 500 decorations currently in Treasury's care are the result of forgotten safe deposit boxes that are turned over to Treasury in accordance with state unclaimed property laws.

"As a Veteran myself, returning military decorations is near and dear to my heart, and it's definitely one of my favorite parts of being state treasurer."

Anyone can search Treasury's dedicated database at patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property/medals to see if they can help reunite a military decoration with a Veteran or their family. Decorations remaining include medals, dog tags, pins, buttons and more that represent every branch of military service and nearly every major conflict.