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.
A gift given from the heart is priceless, no matter what the monetary value.
I'm sure it just KILLs the AP reporter that she can't somehow tack some sort of anti-Bush/anti-war spin onto this.
The waitress came to me and said someone who wishes to remain anonymous would like to buy you anything you like....About the only people in there were Frank Sinatra, Buddy Hackett and someone else I don't remember, sitting in a booth.
What did you get?
I took a week spa vacation!!! I ended up speaking to my husband on the phone every moment I had....!!!!
On our local news a couple presented a widow of a US solder killed in Iraq a check for $1000.00 for Christmas.
Ping, Tonk, to a WONDERFUL story!!
What sweet little baskets. I assume they are for easter eggs.
I have a friend who went on a spa vacation once. She lasted 3 days and then escaped. Her first stop: Dunkin Donuts. She got two jelly donuts and an extra large coffee. How was your spa vacation? better, I hope.
This is just down the road from me... COOL! Makes me proud!
It was ok...I thought I wanted to be alone...but after a few days, I realized that my life is complete with my husband.
Just some dedicated "Operation Support Our Troops" workers.
you'll enjoy this heart warming story.
Same here. I did a similar thing at the Salvation Army a few weeks ago. Now I need to go do it umpteen more times.
A milkshake.
This story sound SO like East Texas -- Anderson, Henderson, Smith County and thereabout. I am really pleased to see something like this happen, but considering where it happened I am not surprised.
Thank you for posting this!
What a wonderful story!!!!!
Um, the Salvation Army does a lot of good work, but I'm not sure you need to be buying them beers.
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