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.
Great story!
Cried and then laughed, thanks.
Merry Christmas!!
"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"
Not to sound like a Puritan or anything, but with the amount of alcoholism that exists in the military are we sure we need to facilitating things?
You're welcome..glad it made you smile..and Merry Christmas right back at ya...
He had 13 children, 6 boys and 7 girls. All the boys became alchoholics and all the girls hated liquor just like their Mother. Several of the boys lives were ruined by their drinking.
I am sorry for the problems in your family. I wish that they were unique. I have no problem with people enjoying alcohol responsibly. But we take 18 and 19 year-old kids into the military for a reason: They are easier to lead because they are not completely formed adult minds. They are impressionable.
Ask anyone in the hospitality industry. The best tippers aren't the 'whales', the best tippers are the ones who know what it's like to wait on the 'whales'.
Same to you! And a happy and healthy New Year!
(In my best Foghorn Leghorn voice:) - "I say, I say, son, somebody needs to have a talk with that boy".
you need to enlighten me a little...I have not heard of the whales...could you please expound...sounds like a few stories behind that term???
I assume it is people like PIAPS who is to troubled to worry about paying a bill much less tipping a waiter...
True we build men to follow orders, yet today's volunteer military is the best because the men and women want to be lead by good leaders they respect and most importantly...TRUST...that is why dims can never be allowed again to get the power to lead our troops...they are not worthy of trust...Hillary would be the worst CIC in any World view and in America...
I agree with you. I was just saying that there is no need to encourage drinking among our soldiers.
She's blessed and probably doesn't even know it.
...two of them were carrying my wife on their shoulders....
I take it she now knows why they call it a Hurricane. FOFL
You're most welcome..glad it brought a smile to your day..I hadn't thought of that in years, til I read this thread...regards..
Cool that she paid for the ring in a way that wouldn't embarrass him
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