Tag Sale Find Yields Purple Heart Presentation Decades Later

Just a few days shy of Independence Day, Carol Pacifico of East Meadow, was given what she called a "wonderful gift."  

In the presence of her loved ones, Pacifico was presented with her uncle, Staff Sgt. Arthur H. Haapala's, Purple Heart. She was given the medal by Rep. Joe Courtney, R-CT, in a ceremony at The Carltun on Monday.

"This is bittersweet," she said. "A man lost his life fighting for his country and to have his medal returned to his family is remarkable."

Haapala, who grew up in Elmont, was part of the 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division and was killed in action during the Normandy campaign on June 21, 1944; 15 days after D-Day. At the time of his death, Haapala was 27 years old.

Haapala's Purple Heart was purchased at a tag sale in Montville, CT. The buyer of the medal gave it to the office of Congressman Courtney to search for surviving family members.

"The buyer felt it was not right for him to keep it, so he brought it to my office to help find the next of kin," Courtney said. "Then the office used Google and Ancestry.com to track down Carol."   

Courtney's office found records of Haapala's brother, Elder Haapala, who is deceased and then found Pacifico since she was the executive to Elder Haapala's will.

Pacifico said that the office contacted her in November 2012.

"They were very diligent about finding us," she said.

Courtney said that returning Haapala's medal to his family was very gratifying.

"The Purple Heart has a profound meaning," he said. "To be able to give it to the family is a real treasure."

At the end of the ceremony, Pacifico looked at the medal with her son, Ken Costa, and her grandchildren, Sarah and Anthony.

"This is all pretty intense," Costa said. "This is something to talk to the kids about. With Fourth of July coming, this is all very humbling."