DES MOINES, Iowa – It’s not every day the State Treasurer gives something back, but an Iowa family received a treasure Wednesday at the State Capitol.

A safety deposit box containing a Purple Heart given to a man named Garold Hayes was turned over to the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. In an effort to return it, the department tracked down his next of kin, a cousin named Nancy who had no idea Hayes had been awarded the Purple Heart.

State Treasurer Roby Smith says this is something he was proud to give back.

“I knew the family was going to be here, I didn’t know we were going to have like 15. It was like a family reunion. So it just shows you, I mean it’s the Purple Heart, they’re here to celebrate that life, that service. And here in Iowa, we celebrate people that serve our country and this is our way of saying thank you in some small way for the sacrifice they gave for our country,” said Smith.

The state has another Purple Heart to return to the family of Herman Eggers of Waterloo.

You can check whether you have any unclaimed property that has been turned over to the State Treasurer’s Office at the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt’s website.