MARION – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs will be in Marion Thursday to reunite a missing Purple Heart and Bronze Start to a Southern Illinois family of a late World War II veteran.

The reunification ceremony is set for 3 p.m. at the Marion VFW Post 1301 on East Longstreet Road.

The missing medals are being returned as a result of Operation Purple Heart, an unprecedented mission to reunite the iconic military medals with their rightful owners. The military honor is given to individuals wounded or killed during military combat. 

The State Treasurer’s Office receives the military medals for safekeeping and return from abandoned bank safe deposit boxes as part of the Unclaimed Property program, also known as I-CASH or missing money. 

This will be the 16th Purple Heart medal Frerichs will return.

The ceremony will include a color guard along local and state officials.