In a ceremony at the Orwigsburg Free Public Library on Wednesday, Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity returned a World War I medal to the family of Private First Class Joseph William Morrison, a fallen soldier from Auburn, Schuylkill County.
The medal, reported to the Treasury as unclaimed property, was awarded posthumously to Morrison’s mother in recognition of his sacrifice during the war.
The WWI Gold Star Mothers and Widows Pilgrimage Medal had been stored in a safe deposit box owned by the late Agnes Morrison, the granddaughter of Joseph’s mother, Agnes Kissick Morrison. Christine Morrison of Brooklyn, New York, a cousin of Agnes Morrison, traveled to Schuylkill County for the ceremony, which was attended by numerous family members.
“I’m so honored to be returning this medal to Joseph Morrison’s family on behalf of a grateful Commonwealth,” said Treasurer Garrity. “It is so important we remember the sacrifices of those who gave their lives serving our country, as PFC Morrison did when he died representing the Allies in France. As a fellow veteran, there is no higher honor for me than to return these medals to our military families and shine a light on the heroism of our men and women in uniform.”
PFC Joseph W. Morrison served in the 554th Army Ambulance Service and was killed in action on November 1, 1918—just ten days before Armistice Day marked the end of the war. His bravery was also recognized with the Croix de Guerre, and VFW Post 2198 in Orwigsburg bears his name in tribute.
Christine Morrison expressed her gratitude, stating, “When I was growing up in Auburn, I heard many stories about our great Uncle Joe. However, I was not aware of the Gold Star Medal which was presented to our great-grandmother after World War I. That is what makes the return of the medal to our family a very momentous occasion. It is quite remarkable, and only through the diligent efforts of the Pennsylvania Treasury staff, that the return is possible. More importantly, the medal reminds us of the sacrifice made by him and others – and their families – in defense of humanity.”
The Gold Star Mothers and Widows Pilgrimage Medal was awarded to mothers and widows of World War I soldiers, commemorating government-sponsored pilgrimages to their loved ones’ graves in France between 1930 and 1933. Agnes K. Morrison participated in such a pilgrimage in 1933, and in 2022, Christine and her husband traveled to France to visit PFC Morrison’s grave.
Since taking office, Treasurer Garrity has returned 477 military decorations, including 11 Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars. Approximately 480 decorations remain in Treasury’s vault, awaiting their rightful owners. The public can search Treasury’s military decoration database at patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property/medals to help reunite veterans and their families with these honors.
Unclaimed property often includes dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance policies, and the contents of forgotten safe deposit boxes. Many tangible items, including military decorations, come from abandoned safety deposit boxes, police evidence rooms, colleges, and nursing homes. Pennsylvania law requires businesses to report unclaimed property to the Treasury after three years of dormancy.
More than one in ten Pennsylvanians is owed unclaimed property, with an average claim worth about $1,600. To learn more or search the Treasury’s database, visit patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property.