A 78-year-old veteran was reunited with his military medals at Surrey RCMP鈥檚 main detachment Friday afternoon.

Zora Singh Tatla, who served in the army in India for 28 years, lost his medals on Remembrance Day last year, after attending a service in the community.

鈥淚t was pouring rain that day. He was on his scooter. He got home, he realized, he went to touch his medals and they were gone,鈥� Sergeant Chad Greig told reporters.

鈥淗e told his family at this time what had happened, he went back and forth scouring trying to find his medals. Somebody by that time had obviously picked them up and were doing their best to try to reunite him with his medals.鈥�

Surrey RCMP say the medals were found at a bus stop at 72nd Avenue and 148th Street on Nov. 11, 2017.

They were anonymously turned into the Surrey RCMP鈥檚 Newton district office about six weeks ago.

After RCMP issued a press release Thursday, Tatla heard the news in the media and got in touch with police.

鈥淩ight now I am pleased to return these medals,鈥� said Creig. 鈥淎s you can see there are many of them, and well-earned.鈥�

Through a translator, Tatla told reporters that before retiring in 1987, he served in action in China, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India.

Tatla said he migrated here to join his family, and was sponsored by his daughter to come to Canada.

He chuckled when asked if he鈥檇 be holding his medals a little tighter now that they鈥檙e been returned.

鈥淗e is extremely happy and thankful to have his medals back,鈥� the translator relayed, 鈥渁nd thankful to police for reuniting him with his medals.

鈥淗e is very grateful for this country,鈥� the translator added, 鈥渁nd very thankful to be living in this country and that鈥檚 the reason why he went to the ceremony, to show respect.鈥�

edit@surreynowleader.com
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