Susan Giebel has found the rightful owner of a memorial cross war medal found in Alberta inscribed with W.J.Cook.
Karen Waterfield of Guelph contacted Giebel a day after GuelphToday ran an article telling the story of an Alberta woman looking to track down the Guelph family.
“It's bizarre what social media can do,” said Waterfield on Tuesday afternoon.
Waterfield said she saw the article on a Facebook group on Aug. 20 and something immediately clicked.
I thought ‘my grandfather’s name was W. J. Cook, and I looked at it and said that was my grandpa! And that's my dad's name and my uncle's name,’” said Waterfield.
So she immediately called up her uncle- the son of veteran W.J. Cook who lives in Guelph to tell him about this finding and he was thrilled.
Giebel, also a veteran, understands the significance of a war medal herself told Waterfield that she will personally come to Ontario in October to hand over the medal. Something she herself describes as an honour for her.
“Now the medal is going home where it belongs,” said Giebel.
"That's the power of the media."
As for the medal, Waterfield says it should go to her uncle to who it would mean the most.
“My uncle should have this medal because he has his dad’s other medal,” said Waterfield.
Amazed by this feeling of recognition of the past, Waterfield said this story has opened new doors of interest for her.
“Now I want to know more about my family history,” said Waterfield.