Military property left unclaimed

Military veterans and their families are among many who have unclaimed property being held by the state.

Each year millions of dollars in unclaimed property and funds are transferred to the Colorado State Treasurer’s Office. Currently, the office is holding more than $1 billion in unclaimed property that is ready to be returned.

Military medals, letters and other paperwork are just a few of the items entered as unclaimed property. Other items include stocks, dividends, mutual funds, uncashed checks, the contents of some safe deposit boxes and more.

State Treasurer Dave Young and the Great Colorado Payback program urge veterans and their families to search for their unclaimed property.

The Great Colorado Payback is a program designed to reunite Coloradans with their lost or forgotten assets, according to its website. 

“Our veterans, service members, and their families have sacrificed so much. Helping them find their unclaimed property is one small way we can thank them for their dedicated service to our country,” said Young.  

The Great Colorado Payback, by Colorado statue, does not sell or destroy military decorations or awards. Military items that are being held for the rightful owners or heirs include:

• Bronze Star Medal: awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.
• Purple Heart Medal: awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. It is the oldest military award still given to U.S. military members.
• Medal of Honor: awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor.
• Navy Cross: is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force.
• Service log books.
• Flight log books.
• Discharge papers.
• Presidential Letters of Appreciation.

“Coming from a military family, it’s extra important to me to get this property back to our service members and veterans,” said Bianca Gardelli, director of the Unclaimed Property Division. “Veterans likely have a higher percentage of unclaimed property, since service members tend to move more frequently than civilians and are consequently more likely to have a check mailed to an old address or have money forgotten at an insurance company, utility, or bank in a state they have since left.”

Property or money is left in the safekeeping of the State Treasury until claimed. There are no time limits for filing a claim, according to the State Treasurer’s Office.