‘Ownership of The Ring,’ a quest to bring closure from decades past

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – At the Aviation Heritage Park and Museum on May 15, retired Brig. Gen. Dan Cherry signed over temporary custody of a blue sapphire class of 1972 high school ring to the museum.

The ring came from Cherry’s friend, Hong My, a Vietnamese fighter pilot he shot down in a dog fight during the war. Decades later, Cherry would find My and befriend him on live television in Vietnam.

My happened to find that ring at a jewelry store in the 80s, unbeknownst to Cherry who thought it might be a war trophy. After years of dodging the question, Cherry asked My where the ring came from and once discovering the truth, a friend of Cherry offered My to trade him his ring for the blue sapphire.

Fast forward to 2023, Cherry petitioned some help from the museum to find the owner of the ring. They tracked down several people from its originating high school, Mackin High School in Washington, D.C., and even met men from the class of 1972.

Now in 2025, the museum and Cherry are asking the whole world for help to reconnect the ring with the rightful owner or family.