I received a text, from ZAK that said

“Hey I lost a ring wondering if you could help”
I was still in Ogunquit, Maine, for my birthday dinner with Cheryl and it was 5:04pm. I immediately called Zak back and he explained to me that the previous night, Friday, July 4th, he and approximately 100 family members and friends had gathered at Friends of Payson Park, Portland ME, in Portland, Maine. They were there to celebrate the holiday and to celebrate Zac being in town to visit. He was leaving Sunday morning and had to be at the airport at 11:30am. Zak told me that he had lived in Portland, for many years and now lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The large gathering was a great end to a great vacation, with family and friends.
While at the large gathering, Zak took his necklace off, from around his neck and put it in his front pocket. The necklace contained his wedding ring, that he wears around his neck, ever since his wife had passed away, a few years earlier. When Zac left the get together he arrived at his car and pulled the necklace out, to put back on. This is when he noticed that the necklace was unclasped and the extremely sentimental wedding ring was missing. Zak immediately went back to the gathering and informed everyone what had happened. Everyone immediately started searching for the ring but unfortunately, it was now dark and the grass was fairly tall. Not very good conditions, to visually search, for a lost ring.

The next morning, Zac went back to the site, in Payson Park and searched in daylight this time. Still, the ring was not found. As the day wore on, Zak was feeling very lost and down in the dumps, about his missing ring. He went to Cabela’s and was about to buy a metal detector, to go search, before his flight, the next day. Zac told me that he literally had a metal detector and was heading to the cashier, when a friend told him about The Ring Finders of Maine. So, while still at Cabela’s, Zac called me. He figured if I wasn’t able to help him he would buy the detector and try himself. This was when he called me. I told him that I could certainly help him and we made plans to meet up at 7:00am, the next morning, at Payson Park and search for the wedding ring. Zak thanked me for saving him the cost of a new metal detector that he didn’t know anything about. Zak also told me that the area where he had taken his necklace off in was not very large and he was certain the ring would be there, hidden in the tall grass. The area would on be an area of approximately 20’ X 30’ or so. That is not large at all and I could easily cover that area, in less than a half hour.

I met Zak right at 7:00am, on Sunday morning, July 6th and he took me to the area he thought his ring would be in. Unfortunately, everything looked differently, now that there was daylight and almost 2 days had passed. He walked the area a few times and was pretty sure an area he marked off, would be the correct area. I fired up my Minelab Manticore and then threw a gold test ring into the tall grass. I did this to show Zak, what sound the ring would make and what I would be looking for, on the vDI screen. Zak seemed confident, after seeing and hearing the test ring found, his ring would be found. I decided to start my grid search, in the area the necklace was taken off and go back and forth, working my way, towards the street. There is always the possibility that the ring could have been moved by someone accidentally kicking it or even one of the vehicles moving it, out of the area. It’s also very possible the ring was lost somewhere else in the park.
I searched for approximately 75’ to 100’ down the first grid line. There were lots of targets but they ended up being in the ground, when checked with my pinpointer. At the end of my first grid line, I took a 1/2 step to my left and headed back to the area, where I had started. Still nothing but trash and coins, in the ground. Zak was certain I would have found it in this area. He then said maybe I should go another 20’ to 25’ further down, from where I had started. So I went and searched 25’ up and back to where I had started. Still no ring had been found. I then told him that I would continue the grid search, as planned, add the extra 25’ to it and just keep going, working my way towards the street. I then started out again and just a few minutes later, I heard the best sounding tone of the search. It was loud and a very nice low tone. Zak and I looked into the tall grass but couldn’t see anything. I pushed the grass back and there it was, a GOLD RING. We had found Zack’s extremely sentimental wedding ring. I looked at Zac and he didn’t say a word. I saw his entire body, release all the tension and his eyes were watery. Zak was very emotional and wasn’t talking at all. Finally he said, “thank you so much. I can’t believe you found my ring, can I give you a hug?” Of course, I love hugs. We talked for another minute or so but Zac had to leave. He had a flight to catch, to Minneapolis. We said our goodbyes and as he walked away, I also walked towards my vehicle, with one big smile, on my face.
I then sent Zac a text, with a few questions

“Hi Zak, Did I spell your name right?
I just want to thank you for placing your trust in me, The Ring Finders of Maine. I was a pleasure helping you out, in your time of need. Just so happy you have your ring back.

Could you answer a few questions for my story.
1) Could you relate the story of how you got the ring and what made it so special to you.
2) What emotions went through you when you saw me find the ring?

I saw your whole body just release the tension and anxiety that you had. It was a beautiful moment to see.

Safe travels my friend ❤️🙏”

Zak’s reply

“Im not one that has an interest in jewlery and rings. For the wedding my wife picked this ring and i really liked it though. I rarely wore it. I got really attached to it and after she had passed I would wear it on the necklace. Unfortunately on saturday the habit backfired and taking the necklace off caused me to lose it.

I’m one to believe that what’s m3ant to be will be and losing it i resorted to accepting that i might never see it again. A friend recommended ring finders of maine and with my travels i didnt think someone would be able to come out in time and help find it. I had more reasons to give up and accept the loss but i had to try. As you were sweeping I had a rollercoaster of high hopes and low moments of despair. When you located it i let out a huge breath i felt i was holding in since the day before. There was wave of emotions that came over primarily relief and happiness i wanted to cry laugh all at once. And reliefed that i had not given up on the search. I kept saying its a material object and thats not where my sentimental value should lie but having it in hand you remember why it means so much to you. Her memory is alive within me and family but something tangible helps ground the memories and offers a sense of nostalgia that is hard to describe.

Once again thank you for your help and most importantly the reassurance that if it was lost in this area we will find it help to keep faith and not give up. Hope those who lose a valued item would know that there good people like yourself that selflessly help to return those item to their rightful ownerals.”

What a great story and I am so proud to have been able to help Zak, in his time of need. Thankful that I was able to find it, before his flight, so that he wouldn’t be thinking of his lost ring any longer. Every ring has a story and now Zac’s wedding ring has a new chapter ❤️🙏