An elderly Cape Cod couple was distraught after three, family heirloom rings were lost on Route I-495 in Wareham on Dec. 7.

The next day, several drivers called State Police concerned about the husband and wife, who were walking on the side of the highway with metal detectors, having returned to search for the ring.

Instead of telling them to move along, responding Troopers Kurt Bourdon and Jonathan O’Loughlin decided to go the extra mile – literally – and joined the search.

“This couple was in their 70s and had been married for 46 years. One of the rings had belonged to her mother,” said Bourdon. “[Trooper O’Loughlin] and I related to them like they were our parents.”

After an hour and a half of walking, the troopers and couple scouring the side of the road near the 3-mile marker in Wareham, Bourdon said something caught he and O’Loughlin’s eyes.

To their surprise it was the rings.

The troopers spoke to the husband first, who was about 75 yards behind them. Overjoyed, he went to his wife.

“He went up to her and said, ‘hon, why don’t we call it a day,’” recalled Bourdon. “She started crying, thinking they were going to give up and then he showed her the rings and instantly she went from crying tears of sadness to tears of joy.”

Bourdon explained the rings were initially lost when the wife removed them during a car trip and placed them in her lap. At one point, her husband pulled over to the side of the road so they could switch driving duties.

Forgetting the rings were on her lap, she stepped out of the car and they fell onto the grass. After realizing they were missing many miles later, the couple returned and started their search.

Bourdon said the search seemed daunting because the couple didn’t remember exactly where they had pulled over, just that it was near Wareham.

“We were looking at a legitimate 8-mile stretch of road to search,” said Bourdon. “But the engagement ring had belonged to her mother and was very important to her.”

Bourdon said he and O’Loughlin were happy to help. A few days later, the couple arrived at the Bourne barracks where both are stationed and gave the troopers large gift baskets as a thank you.

“They are great people,” said Bourdon.