Widower Embraces Man After Finding Treasured Wedding Band at Waterford Beach

WATERFORD, CT – A man who lost his wedding band in July at Waterford Beach was reunited with his treasured item Tuesday.

Elias “Lou” Hage had lost his wedding band last month during one of his daily swims at the beach. Lifeguards had been searching for it everyday since he reported it missing, but were still unable to find it by mid-August.

“This ring was very special not only because of who the man was who lost it (a great person, a positive person),” Waterford Parks and Recreation said in the post, “but he lost his wife a few years back and it meant the world to him.”

The band was eventually found by Keith Willie over the weekend, who does underwater metal detection. He had been informed of the missing band by the department one day while in the office last week.

The two later met at the parks department, where Hage confirmed that it was his band.

"This was going to be the ultimate gift to someone," Willie said in an email. "Aside from the excitement of finding a gold ring lost to Mother Nature, there is no better feeling than reuniting someone with their story that began 56 years ago."

When Willie went in for a handshake, however, he was instead met with an embrace from the very grateful Hage. The post said this was a touching moment that left many at the department in tears.

"I do this because sometimes all people have is a token to remind them of the best parts of their lives," Willie said in an email, "and those memories do not belong lost in the ocean.

Image via Waterford Parks and Recreation Facebook page.