Shopper Pays for Marine's Engagement Ring

AP ^ | Dec 23, 2005

[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.

[presidio9]

ping

[Go Gordon]

He did not immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press on Friday afternoon.

Thats because its none of the press' GD business

[presidio9]

Merry Christmas Ronnie.

[Doc-Joe]

Hey, I used to enjoy the free beers. But if you'd feel better buying jewelry, my wife has been wanting a new tennis bracelet.

[The South Texan]

Just another class act from Red State, America.

[MJY1288]

I can guarantee you that there is many many people doing lots for our troops. I've been to both Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval hospital and the Red Cross has run out of room to store the donated items. Just this past Wednesday my brother and I took some long distance phone cards to Bethesda Naval Hospital and I asked the USMC Liaison Officer if they were getting all they need from the public, he looked at me with a huge smile on his face and said "The outpouring of support is incredible"

[Jet Jaguar]

WOW. Nice.

[ErnBatavia]

Who says we don't love our Military men and women

Medea Benjamin and her Code Pink crowd; John Kerry; Jane Fonda; Pudge Murtha; the population of San Francisco...for starts.

[Jet Jaguar]

Agreed.

[ladyjane]

That was so nice of you!

What were you doing having dinner alone??

[cookcounty]

It works the other way, too.

I'm so proud of my son who called me from Iraq and told me to take $500 and clean out all Wal-mart's Lego and send it over for kids of Iraqis he knows. "I'll reimburse you when I get back , Dad. I'm making plenty of money." He's in his 3rd deployment with 5th SFG.

[Mr. Jazzy]

Angels among us.

[presidio9]

Sounds to me like there are going to be a lot of disappointed little future architects in Cook County this year...

[MJY1288]

God Bless You!

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

Merry Christmas to you and yours also, Freeper presidio9.

http://www.lzxray.com/Ronnie3.jpg
(Photo)

See, also, my Freeper Home Page by hitting the 'posted by ALOHA RONNIE' on this Post

Just for the LOVE of it.

.

[presidio9]

OSOT

[Calpernia]

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.

[yarddog]

Not quite as impressive but I knew two seminary students who were eating at a restaurant in New Orleans. A lady was at a table next to them, waiting on her husband.

They struck up a conversation with her. When she found out they were two preachers, she handed them a hundred dollar bill and said she wanted to pay for their meal. She was Mike Ditka's wife.

[MJY1288]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
ALOHA RONNIE

[Palladin]

What a great story! That lady sure had the Christmas spirit, and the spirit of a Patriot!

God bless her and the happy couple.