As it turns out, it was anything but.
Fourteen Year Old Simerjot Sidhu found the medal on Veteran's Day. He was at his father's Aston Gas Station when he spotted something on the ground of the parking lot.
"I picked it up and I turned the back, and it looked real," Sidhu said.
The next morning, the Chichester High School 9th grader brought the medal to his teacher, Shawn Conti.
They did a little research and learned it 's the Distinguished Service Cross.
"It's the second highest award given to the Army, and it's for going above and beyond the call of duty in engaging an enemy of the United States," Conti said.
The fabric is gently worn and the inscription on the back reads "For Valour". You can imagine the pride a veteran must have had when wearing this significant honor.
Sidhu didn't think twice about turning it in and searching for its owner.
"It's not mine, first of all. And it's the right thing to do," Sidhu said.
"Somebody earned this through sacrifice for the United States," said Conti. "We really wanted to make sure it gets back to whoever owns it."
Conti and Sidhu ask anyone with information about this medal to call the Social Studies Department of Chichester High School at (610) 485-6881, x1303.
