Illinois’ Office Of The Treasurer returned six Purple Hearts to military veterans and their families in 2025. The Purple Heart is the military decoration dedicated to service members wounded or killed in combat. The six returns – part of an initiative called “Operation Purple Heart” – brings the agency’s total of returned Purple Hearts to 18. Whereas financial returns are made by mailing a check, the Office Of The Treasurer holds a ceremony to hand over the Purple Heart, and these instances were no exception.
State Treasurer Michael Frerichs began Operation Purple Heart. He recounts the latest such ceremony, which recognized a World War II veteran.
These honors can go missing if, for instance, the recipient or a relative stores it in a safe deposit box and later dies. This is where the Treasurer’s Office steps in.
Frerichs began this initiative when he found the recovered Purple Hearts in his agency’s vault. He developed a determination to see the honors end up back with their rightful owners.
You can visit icash.illinoistreasurer.gov to see if there is unclaimed property waiting for you.
Michael Frerichs appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.
