This Purple Heart and Medal of Merit were found last week in Southwick and are being held at the Southwick Police station. Anyone with information about these medals is asked to call the detective bureau.
SOUTHWICK – Earning a Purple Heart or Medal of Merit is no easy task. It takes bravery, honor and dedication above the call of military duty.
That is why the Southwick Police Department is working to find the owner of two such medals found in town last week.
“Someone found them on Point Grove Road at the Oak-N Keg package store and they were turned in to the station,” said Sgt. Robert Landis.
The medals bear no name or serial number so finding the owner or owners is a daunting task.
“Officer (Thomas) Krutka went to the Legion and VFW to give them a heads-up that they were found,” said Landis.
The medals were attached to a chain without any other identification.
“They’re not easy to come by,” said Landis. “If anyone is missing the medals they should contact the detective bureau.”
The department posted a photo of the medals on its Facebook page and several comments were made, including one by a person who said family members who lived on the street had similar medals, and another poster commented that a local firefighter recently had medals stolen from his home.
The Purple Heart is a U.S. military designation awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917. It is the oldest military award still given to U.S. military members.
Several countries award a Medal of Merit, including the Dominican Republic, Korea, East Germany and more.
If anyone has information about the medals, contact the detective bureau at 413-569-5348.
