Lost and Found
By Erin Henze
July 26, 2021 – When on vacation, everyone is afraid of losing something important. At EAA AirVenture 2021, the Lost and Found office has you covered. Located just west of the Brown Arch, the Lost and Found office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. officially, although there’s usually someone there until around 9 p.m. If you find something, whether it be a phone, a wallet, or sunglasses, bring it straight to the Lost and Found. This includes vendors finding lost items.
“That’s our biggest problem,” said Lost and Found co-chairman Gary Sternberg. “We really wish vendors would turn the items left at their exhibits immediately to Lost and Found.”
If you bring your cell phone, the Lost and Found asks that you keep it unlocked. That way, if you lose it, the volunteers at the Lost and Found can try to call one of your contacts to figure out who the phone belongs to.
If you lose something, come to the Lost and Found first. It’s very likely someone has already turned your item in! However, if you have lost or found a child, procedures are a little different.
“Stick around the area where you last saw [your child],” Gary said. “We have strict orders, if we or someone else finds a lost child, they stay right there and we don’t move them. Even when security comes, we try to stay right there.”
Over the years, a variety of strange things have been brought in.
“A glass eye from the showers,” Gary said. “We’ve had a parrot in the past. One of my favorites was a little dog named PeeWee, a little Yorkshire terrier.” If you realize you lost something, but you’ve already gone home, you still can get your item back. Call the Lost and Found. If they have it, arrangements will be made to ship it back to you at your expense.
If no one comes in to pick up an item, it will likely eventually be donated. However, high-end items, such as cameras, are usually kept until the next year. Even if you don’t have something to find or turn in, guests are always welcome to come and chat.
“Anybody’s welcome to stop by at any time just to say hi,” Gary said.
