A few items that Joe received for clearing Carl’s name were Carl’s medals: two Purple Hearts and the Silver Star and $120,000 rewards. The rewards gave more freedom to Joe’s life because without the rewards, Joe could not go to the school and take care of Jeremy at the same time. Carl’s medals are significant in Joe’s life because he feels relieved from his traumatic event by looking at the medal. He finally managed to do something for someone instead of just watching them. The medals represent the past because Unlike Carl who had a different mind while saving Virgil in the vietnam war, the medal has found the real owner named Joe who risked his life to get evidence for Carl. The rewards represent the future because Joe, Lila, and Jeremy could
