February 21, 2018 at 5:00 p.m.
Lost RHS class ring returned after 23 years
Lost RHS class ring returned after 23 years
By Kayla Thomason-
Sarah McLaughlin and a friend were enjoying a night out in 1995 when the ring began to bother her, she recalls. She said she decided to take it off and put it in her friend's purse for safe-keeping, but somehow it got lost.
The ring, which is silver with a pinkish purple stone in it, meant a lot to McLaughlin as her parents bought it for her as a gift for getting her diploma.
"Every now and again it was like 'dang it, I wish I still had that ring,'" she said, noting that she assumed the bauble was gone forever.
Earlier this month, Dawn Birling stopped at a flea market in Shawano.
"I was walking around and there was this class ring and it was from Rhinelander," she said.
She bought the ring and wanted to try to find the owner, even if it would be a longshot.
She took to Facebook Feb. 19 and posted a picture of the ring with the name not visible. Her message was simple "I bought this ring at a flea market, he said he found it with a metal detector. I would like to find the owner and return it to her. Rhinelander Wisconsin high school, 1990. Please share as I think she would love to have it back. Whoever lost it will know the name engraved."
Birling's grandson happens to live in Rhinelander and she asked him to share the post. It was shared 803 times in about five hours.
"They (the viewers of the post) didn't know the name, but when she (McLaughlin) private messaged me I was sure it was her and she described the stone exactly because it depends on the light, sometimes it's pink, sometimes it's purple," Birling said.
"It was like three hours later and the lady (McLaughlin) called me and she said she lost it like 20 years ago," Birling continued. "She was so happy."
McLaughlin was stunned to learn that her ring had been found after all these years.
"This never happens to me," she said.
McLaughlin offered to pay to have the ring shipped to her and to reimburse Birling the money she paid for it, but Birling refused.
The ring is expected to arrive by Thursday and McLaughlin said once she receives it she won't take it off her finger again.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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