In November last year, Goodwill Industries of Central Florida (GICF) supply chain manager Gary Hughes received a box from the War Department at the Taft HUB. Inside, he found a neatly folded American flag and a photograph with a brief biography of William James Magill, a Navy serviceman who died during World War II in the Philippines. While donated flags are not uncommon at Goodwill, what made this one extraordinary was that the deceased soldier’s half-sister, Carol, was living nearby in Flagler Beach.
Gary, a Navy veteran, reached out to GICF territory loss prevention and safety manager Jeff Biles, an Army veteran and former police chief, in hopes of finding Magill’s family or next of kin to reunite them with this 80-year-old family treasure. By chance, Jeff located Magill’s half-sister through a connection with the Pawtucket, New Jersey, police department. Once the link was established, Jeff and the GICF marketing team contacted Carol and not only offered to deliver her brother’s burial flag but also arranged a small ceremony to honor the life, bravery, and service of James, who died at just 17 years old.
Months later, on Feb. 24, 2025, Volusia Memorial Park &
Funeral Home hosted the intimate event. Carol, her sister, Judy, and other immediate family members gathered to remember James Magill and reclaim a long-lost family treasure. Carol and her family expressed their deep gratitude to Jeff, Gary, and Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, crediting the organization for its care and compassion in helping bring their family’s history full circle.