DEAR SUN SPOTS: I have a hobby of finding unclaimed money and other valuables such as stock and contents of safe deposit boxes and then reuniting this property with the rightful owner.

I am a disabled veteran and do this as a hobby. I do not charge, accept no money nor favors, do not want donations. This is my hobby, and I enjoy doing it. Times are tough for many folks, and they deserve their property and money.

My favorite website (www.maine.gov/treasurer) has 7,267 Auburn residents and 11,953 Lewiston residents (as well as business and municipalities) listed under Unclaimed Property. Even the Sun Journal is there. Owners can call 624-7470 and claim their money.

I am willing to assist anyone free of charge by email. — EllisMcKeen@aol.com

ANSWER: Ellis is right. The Sun Journal is listed! As is Sun Spots, who contacted Ellis to see if he’d be willing to help people via phone and snail mail as well as by e-mail. Ellis said “sure” and then proceeded to demonstrate his expertise by looking up Sun Spots. Lo and behold, Mr. Sun Spots was listed for more than $100!

If you want Ellis to help you, here is his information: Ellis McKeen, 38 Bog Hill Road, West Gardiner, ME 04345 (note: West Gardiner and Gardiner are separate towns, but share one zip code). Home phone is 582-2988, and email is EllisMcKeen@aol.com. He asks folks to put “All Season Santa” in the subject line because of the problem of opening mail from unknowns and getting a virus.

Ellis is bound to be overwhelmed with requests as soon as his letter appears. Please be patient.

Sun Spots thinks that Ellis could be a poster child for “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” After serving in the military, here he is still helping people.

Following are more letters from or about veterans who are also giving back to their communities after serving their country.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The L&A Veterans Council is looking for anyone who would have an emblem logo of the WAF and the WAVE, the women in the Air Force and Navy. We need these emblems/logos to add to the new stones No. 21 and 22 at the Veterans Memorial Park in Lewiston.

We would like to have these emblems for our next stone, which will have 216 names on it, for the Memorial Day ceremony. Hopefully someone will see this and contact me as soon as possible.

By the way, Sun Spots is one of my favorite things to read in the Sun Journal every day. Please continue this informative column. Thank you. — Bert Dutil, 23 Spofford St. Apt. 454, Lewiston, 786-2305, badutil32@yahoo.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Last week I was privileged to meet Joe Paradis, a soft-spoken gentleman who helped plant the seeds for Veterans Memorial Park overlooking the Androscoggin River. There engraved on 20 stones are the names of thousands of silent heroes who will never be forgotten. It matters not whether the veteran is still living or has died.

The process to get a name engraved on a stone is rather simple. First you need a copy of his or her DD214, 215, 217-MC, WD AGO 53-55. Should you be unable to locate one of these records, please contact the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Ave., St. Louis, MO 63132-5100, 314-801-0800, fax 314-801-9195.

Second, fill out an application. They can be obtained from the L&A Veterans Council, P.O. Box 2316, Lewiston, ME 04241 or from Joe, 786-0488.

There is a $35 fee for the engraving.

I believe on this Memorial Day there will be a special dedication to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which Joe is so graciously donating. — Marguerite Paradis (no relation), Lewiston

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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