Elizabeth Richardson’s journey ended in France but began in Mishawaka.
In World War Two, Richardson served her country by volunteering with the American Red Cross, working to distribute food and drinks to the soldiers fighting the war.
She was killed in a plane crash in 1945 and became one of four women buried at the Normandy American Cemetery.
Nancy Reagan placing flowers on her grave in 1982.
WSBT
Her story didn’t there because the footlocker that held her letters, diary, and flag draped over her casket has made its way back to her home.
“To actually have this footlocker, this may be the single most extraordinary artifact in our entire collection, and we’re so happy that it’s been able to come home to Mishawaka,” Mishawaka Historical Museum President Pete De Kever said.
But the journey home to Mishawaka was unusual, after being given to Richardson’s family, it is unknown where it ended up after 2013.
That was until a couple of months ago when it was found on an embankment in San Pablo, California.
“He saw it, saw that it said E Richardson American Red Cross, and the address of Dragoon Trail Mishawaka, and then that prompted him to make an inquiry on Facebook in a Mishawaka history Facebook group, saying, “Hey, I found this foot locker, does anybody know anything about it? And once I saw that, I knew exactly what it was,” De Kever said.
De Kever said once he had the footlocker, he knew he needed to honor its history.
“I slowly drove past that house on Dragoon Trail. Then I turned around and slowly drove by it again as I was bringing it here to the museum, so that’s something I wanted to do, because it really completed the journey in a sense,” De Kever said.
The footlocker is now on display in time for Memorial Day at the Mishawaka Historical Museum for anyone who wants to see a part of Mishawaka’s, Indiana’s and America’s history.
