A woman has found the family of a late Air Force veteran whose life-time of military mementos were discovered in a box near the parking lot of an east Dallas shopping center.
On June 28, Cindy Wabner drove into the Lakewood shopping center near Gaston and La Vista but a box in the middle of the parking lot was in her way.
"I thought it was debris and popped out of my car to move it," she said.
However, when she saw what was inside that box she saved every document and every photo and then called us asking for help.
"These type of records just give me goosebumps that they need to find their owner," Wabner said.
The box contained the lifetime mementos of a Fred Arthur Lane, Jr. Originally from Virginia, he served in the Air Force, received several commendations including the Bronze Star, and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1973.
The documents found in the box also include his official retirement certificate signed by President Richard Nixon.
"And knew at that point I couldn't leave it there for trash to pick up. That this needed to be reunited with his family," Wabner said.
Our own search for family discovered that Fred Lane, Jr. died 22 years ago at the age of 76. Most of his family is in Virginia. But a son lives here in Dallas.
He told us he was moving family possessions when his truck was stolen with that box inside. He said he's since gotten the truck back, but feared the box the thieves apparently dumped in the road was long gone.
The Lane family expressed their thanks for what Cindy Wabner did and are making plans to meet privately to get back the family possessions.
"It has to be an accumulation of a family's treasures. How valuable for the Lane family to know of the wonderful service this gentleman has brought to our country, especially at this time of the year when we are preparing to celebrate our country's independence," Wabner said.
Public records show that Fred A. Lane, Jr. died on July 4, 1996. And by this July 4th, Cindy Wabner will get the chance to say thank you.
"Thank you to you and your family, especially for serving our country," she said.