As they gathered to bury a friend, an attendant adds the urn containing his wife’s ashes, of WWII Civil Air Transport Command veteran pilot, Don Milleneux, under his headstone at the San Francisco National Cemetery in San Bruno, CA. (Photo supplied by Rebecca Runze)
Dr. Leroy Perry, of Santa Monica, CA is graveside with his friend Rebecca to pay his respects to her aunt. At some point during the period near the marker, he notices he has lost his ring!
Many photos were taken, and after great deductive detective work by his dear friend Rebecca, she was able to place the ring somewhere within 25 feet of Don’s grave marker, probably off to the right side, where he had been making pictures.
The grave maker is located on a beautiful hill just across the road from the chapel. The lush grass is about 4 inches deep. As I searched the natural grid pattern provided by the grave markers, a massive lawnmower spiraled ominously closer each time he came around the hill above me. The pressure was mounting. I removed my coat and cried out for divine fortune to intervene.
Dr. Perry was the team doctor for the 1976 National Championship winning USC Football Team. The 14k gold and ruby colored ring is about the size of a golf ball. In expressing his emotional attachment to the ring, “It’s part of me” he said.
One is not allowed to metal detect on Federal property without permission. Happily the General Manager was more than pleased to authorize my search for Dr. Perry’s ring. He had received about 20 phone calls regarding the ring and was very enthusiastic that I would be successful and solve the mystery.
After 33 minutes of searching, and locating many coins and other high value targets, (which I did not dig!) I finally came across that loud high tone I had been hoping to hear. Just off to the right of the marker, where Rebecca had suggested, I found the ring with my detector. Looking down, the shiny inside gold band glistened in the sun, deep in the grass, if you knew just where to look.
I immediately called Dr. Perry and Rebecca to give them the good news. Because I had made previous plans to be in Los Angeles later that week, I had the great privilege of delivering the 1976 National Championship ring personally to Dr. Perry in Santa Monica at his office. (Photo by Rebecca Runze)
It’s quite a keepsake!
Dr. Perry is complete again! Good feelings all around.
Ring and fond memories recovered!
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SF Bay Area RingFinders Contact: Marshall Smith – Text or call: 415-895-0334
Metal Detectorist serving the Greater San Francisco Bay Area from sunny San Mateo, CA
