Treasurer Garrity, Senator Stefano Celebrate Veterans Day in Somerset
Highlighting efforts to return unclaimed military decorations and memorabilia
Somerset, PA - Treasurer Stacy Garrity today joined Senator Pat Stefano at the Somerset County Courthouse to recognize Veterans Day and highlight efforts to return the unclaimed military decorations and memorabilia housed in the Pennsylvania Treasury’s vault to their rightful owners.
“Veterans Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices that our service men and women have made to protect and defend our country. Here in Somerset County, we are especially reminded of those who served after the 9/11 attacks. As a veteran myself, I want each of Pennsylvania’s nearly 800,000 veterans to know they are appreciated and respected today and every day.”
Pennsylvania State Treasurer, Stacy Garrity
“This special day is a reminder of our civic responsibility to never forget or take for granted the valiant sacrifices that all of our veterans, so many brave men and women, have made on our behalf. May we never forget that this nation remains a free nation only because our veterans fought to keep it that way.”
Senator Pat Stefano
Treasurer Garrity and Senator Stefano also encouraged Pennsylvanians to search Treasury’s database of unclaimed military decorations and memorabilia to help return priceless medals – including Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars – to the veteran who earned them, or the veteran’s family.
Since taking office, Treasurer Garrity has returned more than 225 military decorations and memorabilia which were housed in Treasury’s vault as part of the state’s unclaimed property program. Another 500 are in the process of being returned.
“Returning military decorations and memorabilia is my favorite part of being Treasurer, and absolutely the most rewarding. Our first goal is to return the items to the veteran who earned them. If the veteran has passed, we return them to a family member. Sometimes it can take quite a bit of detective work to find the rightful owners. It’s one small way we can show our gratitude to these veterans and their families.”
Pennsylvania State Treasurer, Stacy Garrity
Military items most often come to Treasury as contents of abandoned or forgotten safe deposit boxes. Most tangible property is auctioned due to space restrictions after being held for three years, with the proceeds remaining to be claimed by a rightful owner any time. However, military decorations and memorabilia are held in perpetuity until Treasury can get them back to the veteran who earned them or their family.
Anyone can search Treasury’s military database at https://patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property/medals/.
NOTE TO MEDIA: Images of military decorations from Treasury’s vault are available upon request.
Media contacts:
Samantha Galvez, Press Secretary (Treasury), 717-418-0206 or sgalvez@patreasury.gov
Mark Fetzko, Chief of Staff (Sen. Stefano), mfetzko@pasen.gov
