Over the years, they tried to find the owner but failed.

"All I had to go on was the initials J.A.C,'' Sabelhaus said. "I was able to learn that the person graduated from Western Hills High school, but I couldn't get information from the school. I read newspapers to see if anyone would ask about it, but nothing.''

Over the years, the ring became a part of her. She decided not to get rid of it and vowed to keep trying to find the rightful owner.

Judy Sablehaus, left, returned a 1952 Western Hills High School class ring to Ruth Cinnamon, right, on Father's Day. (Sarah Conard photo)

"I held on to it, hoping someday I could return it because I know how much this means to a family,'' she said. "When I was a junior at McAuley High school, I even wore it to school one day, just to make kids think it belonged to me.''

After her dad, Lou Van Nottingham, retired and moved to the West Side, he visited Western Hills High school. School officials searched records for someone with the initial J.A.C. and found John A. Cinnamon, who lived about three blocks away.

On Father's Day this year, Sabelhaus went to a house on Memory Lane. She rang the doorbell. When Ruth Cinnamon answered, Sabelhaus said: "I have something that belongs to you.''

John A. Cinnamon had died a year ago.

"I wished I had been able to return it while he was still alive,'' Sabelhaus said .

The ring became the centerpiece of a Father's Day celebration, said Ruth Cinnamon.

"This was wonderful. It means so much. I can't thank her enough,'' Cinnamon said.

Incidentally, if anyone finds a ring with the initials L.V.N., Purcell, 1955, it belongs to Lou Van Nottingham, Sabelhaus' father.

Awards for parents

Good parents, it is time for you to be honored.

Judith B. Van Ginkel, president of Every Child Succeeds, is asking for nominations for the Celebrating Those Who Parent Children Award.

"This award is intended for those who have provided the love, nurturing, discipline, guidance and secure environment a child needs to succeed, even when faced with challenge,'' Van Ginkel said.

She said the organization welcomes nominations for biological parents, members of extended families who are filling the role of parent (such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle or sibling), foster parents, people who have assumed responsibility for a child without legal or biological connection, and adoptive parents.

Nominees must live in Greater Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky. A nominee can be one person or a parent team.

Winners will be honored Nov. 16.

For more information, call Angie Coyle, 636-2830 or visit www.everychildsucceeds.org.

SALUTING OUR SOLDIERS: Achievement medal given

Army Specialist Joseph Munafo has been decorated with the Army Achievement Medal, having distinguished himself by meritorious service or achievement in a non-combat area. He is a network switching systems operator assigned to the 67th Signal Battalion at Fort Gordon, Augusta, Ga.

The St. Xavier High School graduate is the son of Tina and Jerome Munafo of White Oak.

Basic training graduates

These airmen have graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas:

Ramon Hill, a Withrow High School graduate and son of Phylise Hill of Madisonville; Joseph Brugger, Northwest High School graduate and son of Bonnie and John Brugger of Colerain Township; David Hart, Oak Hills High School graduate and son of Pamela Roell of Delhi Township, and Daniel Hart of Cleves; Ronetta Braggs, Sycamore High School graduate and daughter of Ronetta Braggs of Montgomery and Albert Loving of Golf Manor; David Swinney, Lakota East High School graduate and son of David Swinney of West Chester Township; Darrell Barnard, a William Mason High School graduate and son of Denise Barnard and Tommie Barnard, both of Mason; John Whisman, Norwood High School graduate and son of Korinne Wood and John Whisman, both of Norwood; Michael Moran, Hughes High School graduate and son of Helen and Jeffrey Moran of Avondale; Matthew Rutan, Scott High School graduate and son of Elaine Huber of West Chester Township and Matthew Huber of Covington; and Allison Sexton, Seton High School and Good Samaritan College of Nursing graduate and daughter of Sandra and Orville Sexton of Riverside.

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