UNION GROVE, Wis. — Frieda Abakovski was at a flea market in Cudahy when she struck up a conversation with a woman selling items.
Abakovski shared with the vendor that she has worked in food services at the Clement J Zablocki Veterans’ Administration (VA) Medical Center in Milwaukee for a long time.
Upon hearing that, the vendor went to retrieve something from her collection. She handed Abakovski two Purple Heart medals and asked if she could figure out who they belonged to.
When Abakovski saw the medals, she wondered how they ended up at a flea market.
“I don’t know why they came to me, but I am honored that they did,” she said.
Abakovski began researching who they might belong to. She asked coworkers at the VA for help.
They discovered they belonged to a man named Alan Nehls. He was a Marine who served in Vietnam. Sadly, he died last year at the age of 76, and had no family. Some of his belongings ended up at a flea market.
Abakovski planned a trip to visit his grave at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove. She brought the medals with her. She was escorted to Nehls’ gravesite by two Marines in uniform who stood by her to salute the late veteran.
“He will get what he has earned, and I hope his spirit is resting in peace,” Abakovski said. “I do feel relief. Like this is an accomplishment, his mission is complete.”
Jeff Hughes, a supervisor for the VA’s Military Funeral Honors Program, said it’s not common to have someone bring in medals they found.
“It’s so rare, and in society today, to know that there are these spontaneous acts of patriotism, is heartfelt,” Hughes said.
Abakovski went out of her way to make sure the medals Nehls earned in service to our country were not lost — that his sacrifice wasn’t forgotten.
Knowing there is no family to visit Nehls’ gravesite, Abakovski said she will be back.
The medals will be sent to the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and will be categorized and kept at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Madison.