Memento

  [muh-men-toh]

noun, plural me·men·tos, me·men·toes.

1.

an object or item that serves to remind one of a person, past event, etc.; keepsake; 

souvenir.

My grandfather (father's father) passed away almost 30 years ago.  Several years later, my brother an I were going through some of his "stuff", and I found this little pocket knife.  IIRC, it was in with his fishing gear, and was rather dramatically rusted.    I cleaned it with lots (and lots) of Naval Jelly, then buffed with my handy-dandy Dremel.  Far from perfect, but much improved.    Nowadays it sits in my desk at work, and gets occasional use as a letter opener.  And a reminder of him...

It's pretty small, barely 2.5"...  Flat Top National Bank is where he worked...