Michelle,
Most NPC groups consider their members to have "life-long leases" on their badges. When a member dies the badge should go back to the fraternity or be buried/cremated with the member.
However, this is a MORAL lease, not a LEGAL one. Unless there is a signed lease in which the member and the fraternity have agreed that the badge LEGALLY belongs to the fraternity, then there's not a lot you can do about the eBay dealer or vintage jewelry seller who bought a badge at an estate sale.
What YOU should do is be SURE that you have included the disposition of your Tri-Delta badge in the instructions to your survivor and/or your will. Most likely your husband or your children do not know where Tri-Delta's headquarters is or even that you've made that moral commitment.
I commend Tri-Delta for its willingness to pay the going rate to retrieve forgotten badges.
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