Tennessee Senator Andy Berke

Sen. Andy Berke, D-Chattanooga, and state officials this afternoon hope to highlight a new law that preserves military medals for return to veterans and their families.

The event will be held at 2 p.m. in East Ridge at the American Legion Post 95, 3229 Ringgold Road.

State Treasurer David Lillard and Veterans Affairs Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder will discuss their departments' roles in implementing the new law.

Earlier this year, Berke passed Senate Bill 572, which requires the treasurer's office to hold any abandoned military medals as unclaimed property until the owner or proper beneficiaries can be identified the medal returned to them.

Until now, military medals left unclaimed in bank safe deposit boxes were sold at auction and the proceeds were sent to the treasurer's office to hold until the rightful owners could be found.

Veterans' medals are timeless treasures that should never be sold or auctioned," Berke said in a news release. "This bill ensures that they are given the respect they deserve and are returned to their rightful owners."