Well over the years I have made some good finds. Some military items including a militia belt plate (WE&T 2008 Best Finds), a militia eagle hat plate, a rev war era shoulder belt plate, some great coins but the following story is my most memorable find.
This happened in May of 2011 and I still remember it like it was yesterday. I have tried to find my picture of myself returning the ring to Barbara but I can't. Our local paper also ran the story.
Gold Ring Returned If you happened to read my post from yesterday then you know that I recovered a wedding band. Today I got to return that wedding band to the widow of the man that wore it.. On the inside of the band were some initial B.E.C to A.G.C 12-21-81. While at work I decided to call The Westfield City Hall Town Clerk, told here that I was a metal detectorist and that I had recovered a wedding band and was trying to locate the owner. She thought that was the coolest thing she had heard in a very long time. Well I gave here the info on the inside of the band and she said that she would have to call me back. Well around noon I get her call (totally shocked me). She said that she thinks she has the info that I am looking for. Albert and Barbara Carrington were married on 12-21-81. She said that Albert was from Huntington and that Barbara was from Russell. I thanked her for her time and then Googled Albert Carrington. I found him but no info on Barbara. Searched a little deeper, found her. I got there phone number and called, Barbara answered the phone. I said is this Barbara and she says yes(very guarded), then I asked if she was married to Albert. She says oh my god, Albert passed away 19 years ago. I proceeded to tell her that I have something of his that I thought she should have. I told her who I was and that I think I have Albert's wedding band. Dead silence.....She asks what makes me think that the wedding band is Albert's. So I start to describe the engraving and she cannot believe it. Yes that would be her late husbands wedding ring and she remembered yelling at him for losing it. I told her that I would like to return the ring and she says that most people would have just sold it. I then had to tell her as a md'er if we find a ring, and the owner can be identified, that we make every effort to return the ring. I then make arrangements to meet with her at her house in Huntington, so my wife and I took a little trip to the hilltowns. She was a very nice lady, tried to offer me gas money. I told her no way, but if there was an organization in town that could use it please give it to them. I have posted a picture of the two of us. She also mentioned that she had told a lot of people of what was happening and everyone told her that it also was the coolest thing that they had heard of.
My first gold with my v3i is now back with it's rightful owner. More importantly I was able to put a smile on her face.
Thanks for reading and keep digging