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Solider Belongings Displayed Nearly 50 Years After His Death In WWII

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A local family waited nearly 50-years for the remains of their soldier to be returns after World War II, now his recently discovered personal items are on display for all to see.

Lonny Oscar Holloway Jr., was a Lieutenant in the Army.

He was killed in the Battle of the Bulge in December of 1944.

His remains were buried in Belgium and weren't discovered until 46-years after his death.

Many of his personal items were found in the same area in 2011 by three Dutch men, and those items are now on display at the Soldiers and Sailors Museum in Oakland.

"It's everyone's duty to pay honor to our soldiers -- those who have served and come home and those that died and were not brought home right away," Denise Holland said.

Holland is Holloway's niece.

"These items were found when he was actually located in the Argan where he was shot and killed. Then these are some paper articles, prayer books, and of course his purple heart," she said.

It's that Purple Heart that gives her the greatest pride.

"I was overwhelmed with emotion when I saw his Purple Heart because so many of our soldiers give the ultimate sacrifice and seeing caused my heart to be stirred."

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