A simple "Thank you" is all we need.
Posted on 12/23/2005 7:17:21 PM PST by presidio9
A Marine who's planning to marry a Texan got an early Christmas present: A fellow shopper picked up the tab for a $3,000 diamond engagement ring after the two struck up a conversation in a jewelry store.
The 54-year-old Dallas woman who paid for the 1-carat, princess cut diamond ring wants to remain anonymous, Helzberg Diamonds spokeswoman Stacey McBride told The Associated Press on Friday.
The woman's father was in the military, her brother was a Marine who died in Vietnam and her nephew just got back from Iraq, McBride said.
Marine James Lynaugh, 28, of Patuxent River, Md., was shopping Thursday at the Helzberg Diamonds store at a mall in Tyler.
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Lynaugh and the anonymous shopper discussed their mutual military connections. Lynaugh opened a store credit account to buy the ring, then left with it.
After the other shopper paid for her items, she inquired whether Lynaugh's credit charge could be reversed. She didn't even ask about the cost of the ring, McBride said.
"So we were able to reverse that charge, and she paid in full with a check," McBride said.
A representative of the North Kansas City., Mo, company later contacted Lynaugh with the good news.
"He did say that he broke the news to his fiancee" that someone else paid for the ring, McBride said.
Lynaugh's fiancee is from Athens, about 40 miles southwest of Tyler in East Texas. The Marine also has family in Huntsville.
He did not immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press on Friday afternoon.
I feel pretty good about myself when I buy military personnel beers when I see them out at bars. Now I feel inadequate as hell.
I wish the best for the marine and his future wife, may God be the glue that bonds them together...
Dnn't worry about it. We all do our share.
Thank you for posting such a wonderful story!!!!
Ahhhhh, the Spirit of Christmas! Something tells me this lady has that spirit all year long. God bless her and God bless our troops.
God Bless our Troops and all who support them
For the fine lady who is responsible for this incredible act of kindness, I say this .... What makes a person great is not what he or she does when everybody is looking, it's what he or she does when only God is
When I tell folks I'm from Texas, this story reminds me why I am so PROUD of that Great State and miss it so much here in maryland!
Heart warming story for Christmas.
Beautiful, heartwarming story.
I was staying at an exclusive gold club/spa in San Diego. I was having dinner, alone when a couple sat down at the table next to me. I found out he had just gotten back from Iraq and they were about to get engaged. As I left, I picked up their dinner check (which was not small) ... without saying a word. It felt really good.
Ping for the spirit of Christmas
Thank you to the Marine for your service and congratulations to the anonymous lady for her appreciation of our military.
God bless this Marine, his upcoming marriage, and this anonymous shopper.
A simple "Thank you" is all we need.
God bless them both.
There's a very generous soul out there somewhere and she's a class act. I think she'd agree, however, that we are all still in debt to this marine and all the other armed forces serving.
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