Sign of heroism found in an act of compassion

LAKEWOOD - Old and new, they are coats that have been collected for people in need.  It is called Warm Drive, a project that joins several businesses in the metro area in an effort to provide coats to the homeless. 

Before the used coats are given to the homeless, they are inspected and dry cleaned. That means checking the pockets of the coats for items left behind by the previous owner. The volunteers have found about everything you can image. There have been cell phone chargers, ski passes, packs of chewing gum and even old political pins.

What Brett Buchheit found in the pocket of a grey coat that shocked everyone.

"While I was reaching into the interior pocket of one of the coats, I felt something sharp," says Buccheit.

Inside a plastic bag was a Bronze Star Medal, an individual military decoration awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. When awarded for bravery, it is the fourth highest combat award presented by the U.S. Armed Forces. The Bronze Star was first awarded in 1944.

Finding a Bronze Star in the pocket of the grey coat left the volunteers with more questions than answers.

"Oh, I'm sure it has a story," says Lori Mantia.

She and the other volunteers with the project are hoping to learn the story behind the medal, but more importantly they are hoping to return it to the owner.

"We were very surprised to see it in the first place and it sure would mean a lot to us to get it back to the rightful owner because you know it mean a lot to somebody," says Brenna Simmons.

To help assure the Bronze Star is returned to the rightful owner, the volunteers have asked VFW Post 2461 in Denver to assist. Bill Bourrillion, the post commander, says the Bronze Star is awarded to individuals along with documentation. That documentation will help the VFW assure the correct person gets the medal.

To contact VFW Post 2461, call them at 303-722-3279 or visit the VFW at 1350 S. Broadway in Denver.

To assist Warm Drive and their efforts, you can drop off new and used coats to any Revolution Cleaners or the Mintz Law Firm in Lakewood. They are also collecting coats and clothing for children. If you have any questions about donations, call Lori Mantia at 720-219-4431.

The coats will be given to the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and the Denver Rescue Mission.