Minnesota UPS Store Owner Returns Priceless Package to Vet’s Son

A framed military flag, a funeral registry book and other precious memorabilia have finally made their way to a U.S. Navy veteran’s family in Georgia after about four years of sleuthing by a Minnesota UPS Store owner. The package wound up in Randy Holst’s store after repeated attempts to deliver it failed.

It had been sitting in Holst’s store for about two years when he finally decided to open it. When he saw what was inside, Holst put in a call to the U.S. Veterans Administration to locate relatives of Carl Barnett Burchell, whose name was on the items. Burchell had died of cancer in 1988.

Holst hit a dead end with the VA. So he began sending messages on Facebook to people with similar names. In early January, his efforts paid off, and he located Carl Burchell’s survivors in St. Marys, Georgia.

“You wouldn’t toss a memory like that,” Holst told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “I can’t imagine anyone would.”

Tim Burchell told the newspaper that Holst’s extra effort should be recognized.

“I want to make sure he gets the credit he deserves,” Burchell said. “One little touch of kindness is contagious.”

» For the complete story, go to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Photo by jnn1776 via Flickr Commons