Pennsylvania Treasurer Joe Torsella today announced his initiative to return Treasury’s unclaimed military decorations has put 85 service awards back in the hands of the veterans who earned them, but hundreds of decorations remain available to claim.

“With each return, we’ve seen how service medals can embody so much more than an act of military merit,” Torsella said. “These decorations are a physical connection to a veteran’s proudest moments and cherished memories, and, this Veterans Day, they belong with our military members and their families.”
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Treasury frequently conducts inventory processes and currently holds over 850 military decorations, including dozens of Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars, from various conflicts. Many of the service awards have been in Treasury’s possession for decades, and the rightful owners could be a veteran’s relative. Treasurer Torsella encourages any Pennsylvanian with military members in their family to search their loved one’s name.

“There are few more powerful, tangible reminders of a family member than seeing their Purple Heart, or Good Conduct Medal, or the decorations they wore on their uniform during service. I want all Pennsylvanians who are entitled to these heirlooms to have them,” Torsella said.

Service awards are reported to Treasury as unclaimed property, often through forgotten safe deposit boxes. Treasury policy is to never liquidate military decorations in the hopes that the rightful owners come forward or are found.

In September, Treasurer Torsella unveiled a webpage dedicated solely to helping veterans find their lost or missing war medals. The new search function allows users to search their names, or the name of a loved one, to see if Treasury is holding a military decoration as unclaimed property.

To search for unclaimed military decorations, please click here. To search for other unclaimed property, including uncashed checks, forgotten stocks, and more, please click here. Treasury’s Bureau of Unclaimed Property is also available toll-free at 1-800-222-2046 and via email at tupmail@patreasury.gov, to help conduct a thorough search for unclaimed property.

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