'Absolutely stunned': Lost love letters, documents reunited with grateful family members
Family heirlooms and pieces of local history dating back to the Second World War were returned to their rightful owners Saturday.
Rayanne Boychuck, Enliven Refinishing owner, found the pieces of local history in a dresser, bought at a thrift store, that she planned to restore.
She shared the story with CTV News Edmonton Friday in the hopes the rightful owner and their family could be reconnected with their treasures, including a Bible, Australian combat records, photographs, and love letters.
“We found the soldier’s family, so we are going to give them back,” Boychuk said.
The heirlooms belonged to Peter Moore, an Australian Army veteran. His son, Graham, was watching the newscast on Friday and realized the significance of the items.
“I was following the story, and suddenly something was stated, and I realized, that’s my dad,” Graham said.
“My dad has been gone for nine years,” he added. “We’ve not figured out how these became separated from the family.”
Rayanne Boychuk discovered several items that appeared to have sentimental value in an old dresser in September, 2021. (Amanda Anderson/CTV News Edmonton)
While the family cleared out Peter’s house in 2005, Graham shared how he did not even know the items existed.
“That part of his past has always been a mystery,” he said. “I hadn’t seen anything in relation to my father’s army time. I’ve never seen a single document about it, even when I was in Australia.
“I was absolutely stunned because not only were they here, they were things that I’ve never seen before.
“To see those pictures of my grandma and grandpa and stuff I haven’t seen for years is amazing,” grandson Mark Moore told CTV News. “It’s lovely to see the history.”
Peter’s granddaughter Rebecca saw the CTV News clip, when she immediately recognized her grandmother’s handwriting.
“One of my favourite parts of the first news clip (from last night) was seeing my grandmother’s handwriting,” she said. “I knew right away.”
Among the items recovered were sealed love letters written by Peter’s wife, Vera. Graham says they’ll stay that way.
“I’m going to burn them,” he said, as he teared up. “I’ll take them, I’ll burn them and spread the ashes on their grave. They’re buried side-by-side out in Sherwood Park, and that can sort of be something that remains between the two of them."
Boychuck said she is happy the heirlooms were reconnected with the rightful owners — and that it happened so quickly.
“I’m so happy they’re in the right hands finally,” Boychuck said. “(It) couldn’t be nicer. A happy ending for sure.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
BREAKING Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.