Treasury Returns Military Medals to Veterans' Families

Pennsylvania Treasury holds more than 475 unclaimed military decorations and has returned nearly 600 since 2021.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Military

Rows of felt-lined wooden cases holding bronze medals with faded ribbons on steel shelving in a quiet vault, suggesting decorations awaiting their owners. — Pennsylvania Treasury is holding more than 475 unclaimed military decorations and has returned nearly 600 to veterans' families since 2021 under Treasurer Stacy Garrity. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you search a state database to help return a veteran's medal?

Pennsylvania Treasury is holding more than 475 military decorations in its vault awaiting rightful owners. Since 2021, Treasurer Stacy Garrity's office has returned nearly 600 such decorations, including 13 Purple Hearts and four Bronze Stars.

Why it matters

The effort returns medals, ribbons and pins to Veterans and their families as an act of gratitude and respect. Residents are encouraged to search the state's database to help reunite decorations with their owners.

Treasury records show nearly 600 military decorations have been returned since 2021, including 13 Purple Hearts and four Bronze Stars. More than 475 decorations remain in the vault, and their owners have not yet been identified.

The players

Pennsylvania Treasury

The state agency responsible for managing unclaimed property and holding military decorations awaiting return to their owners.

Stacy Garrity

Pennsylvania's State Treasurer, who took office in 2021 and has overseen the return of nearly 600 military decorations.

The details

Pennsylvania Treasury has returned a U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal to the son of WWII Sgt. George Pershing, who was born in Westmoreland County in 1920 and drafted in spring 1942. A Ruptured Duck Lapel Pin was also returned to the family of WWII Veteran Earl F. Detweiler of Luzerne County, for whom AMVETS Post #189 in Pittston is named.

Sgt. George Pershing was born in Westmoreland County in 1920.
Sgt. George Pershing was drafted into the U.S. Army in spring 1942.
Treasurer Stacy Garrity took office in 2021.
Notable decoration returns to the Pershing and Detweiler families were made in 2026.
Veterans Day, November 11, 2026, prompted the Treasurer's public call to help search for owners.

Legacy Recovery

The return effort continues the work of the state's unclaimed property program, which operates through the searchandclaimpa.gov database. The recent notable returns extend that program's record of matching long-held decorations with families nearly a century after their original service.

Anyone can search the Treasury's military decoration database at searchandclaimpa.gov to help find Veterans and their families. Pennsylvanians can also use the same site to check for unclaimed property.

The takeaway

Checking the state's database takes only a few minutes and can reunite a Veteran's family with a medal their relative earned. Returning these decorations honors service members whose recognition has been held for decades.