Seminole, Fla. — Captain Stanley Beach has built his life around his Christian faith. Now he's wondering if a miracle will help return one of the oldest personal relics of his life as a chaplain.
Beach and his wife Ellen were leaving Starkey Road Baptist Church in Largo last Sunday when they realized that the 50-year-old bible, tattered from years of study, highlighting and note-taking was left on top of their car.
"He's had it forever," his wife, Ellen said. "It's filled with notes and photos and underlinings. He's used it as his study bible for as long as I can remember."
Although Ellen doubts it will be returned in tact, the bible has seen much worse than the parking lot of a church.
Beach spent seven months stationed in Vietnam where he began his life's work as a chaplain, reading from that same bible, and even saving lives during his service the Navy and Marines..
Beach retired in 1987, but not before being awarded the Chaplain of Marines and earned the Bronze Star for Valor, Navy Commendation Medal for Valor, and the Purple Heart.
