On the third day of the New Year, Maureen Miles opened a letter she had waited 50 years to receive. It was from The Salvation Army Missing Persons & Booth Records.

Dear Ms. Miles: I am happy to inform you that our colleagues in England recently had contact with your half-brother Chris Miles. Chris was pleased to learn you were searching for him and would like to have contact with you.

Click here to get the whole story in a vibrant, immersive and easy-to-read format.

She screamed. She blinked. The words blurred as tears welled in her eyes. She finally had the link she needed.

Flashback five decades. Maureen was a college student in England in the 1950s when she received a similar letter from The Salvation Army. But the news was very different. They were sorry to report that her father, Dennis William Miles, did not wish to have contact with his only daughter.

Get the complete story here, and see a video interview with Maureen Miles. You'll also find many more photos and the story behind the story.

About the Author

Keep Reading

On April 8, 1974, in Atlanta, Hank Aaron smashed baseball’s home run record. Our special coverage celebrating the 50th anniversary of this magical moment has begun online and in our print editions. There’s still more to come as Monday’s historic anniversary arrives.

Credit: Richard Watkins

Featured

Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images