PEARLAND, Texas — Nearly everything is for sale at Cole’s Flea Market in Pearland. Donnie Jemison is a flea market shop owner and a master negotiator who has a soft spot for children.
“The kid came in that morning,” Jemison said. “He was trying to sell a box of knives and an axe.”
With no interest in the axe, Jemison traded knives and sent the 12-year-old on his way.
“Then he came back that afternoon and said he needed $26 for the axe to buy a video game,” Jemison said.
The two agreed on the sale, and the shop owner started taking a closer look at his new buy.
“I cleaned it up, and there was a name on the axe and another number,” Jemison said.
His partner searched the name and number and discovered the axe belonged to William “Ryan” Owens. Owens, a Navy SEAL who was killed in action January 2017 while fighting in Yemen.
“The axe came to the right place,” Jemison said. “I just think it was meant to be. This kid came in with the axe and gave it to a Vietnam veteran.”
Jemison, a Navy veteran, found Owens' family in Florida where they hold an annual run in Owens’ memory.
“I know that if I lost something overseas I would be thankful if someone gave it back,” Jemison said.
Although nearly everything is for sale inside the flea market, Jemison knows a price has already been paid for the axe, and he’s working on sending it back to Owens’ family.
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