We give bureaucracies \u2013 state and local \u2013 a hard time for being impersonal and inefficient.\u00a0 Most of the time, that\u2019s well deserved.<\/p>\n
But on occasion, they really do deserve a commendation.\u00a0 This is one of those occasions.<\/p>\n
Recently, the Kentucky State Treasury reunited a veteran\u2019s family with his decorations from World War II.<\/p>\n
The man served in the Pacific during World War II, in the USMC.\u00a0 He passed away in 1987.<\/p>\n
The decorations and some other items had been placed in a safety deposit box by his wife when he died 26 years ago.\u00a0 When she passed away approaching 20 years later, the items went unclaimed \u2013 and were turned over to the State Treasury.<\/p>\n
The State Treasury located his next of kin, which turned out to be his son.\u00a0 They returned his father\u2019s medals and other personal items from the safety deposit box to him last week.\u00a0 One of those “other personal items” was the card authorizing his father to attend the Japanese surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945 and witness same<\/i>.<\/p>\n