Marvin the Martian has found his way home.
After being lost for almost a year, Nancy and Terry Coates’ well-known Marvin the Martian sign was returned to their home last weekend, delighting the pair who had missed the alien watching over them from the BC Hydro pole at the end of their driveway.
Read more: Sicamous couple’s martian landmark taken, theft appeared pre-planned
After being away for the weekend, the Coates returned late Monday (Oct. 23) and as she tiredly reached for the door handle, Nancy said she was pleasantly surprised to find the sign leaning against their front door.
Attached to the sign was a note that said a woman and her daughter had heard someone may have seen the sign in the bush near Two Mile beach, and the two of them went to try and find it. After trying to return it a few times while the Coates’ were away, the mother and daughter decided to leave the couple a surprise.
“I was told your family’s stolen sign was just sitting outside, and sure enough, there it was, slightly hidden under some bush,” reads the letter. “It made me very sad someone would do that. I heard you were a really nice lady that drives a bus and we wanted to give it back.”
Nancy said the letter included a phone number and she called to offer the women the promised $50 reward. The woman, who didn’t give much personal information, wouldn’t take the money or any offers to buy them dinner. Nancy said they just wanted to do the right thing.
Although the sign is missing the brackets used to hold it to the hydro pole outside the Coates’ home, Terry said he plans to fix it up and find a welder to attach it again.
The Coates plan to have the sign welcome travelers into Sicamous again.
“We’ve thought about it, and so many people miss the sign, still ask about it when we go into town,” said Nancy. “Although we won’t put it up in the shape it’s in…
“I bet the person [that stole it] never dreamed there would be this much controversy.”
The Coates’ have lived in Sicamous and the surrounding areas for many years and the sign was a popular landmark that guided drivers along the highway. Locals commented on the sign’s return on social media with messages of relief and glee to see the alien back at home.
“We’re so happy to have it back.”
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