Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Amanda Butterfield ReportingThe father of a fallen Salt Lake City Marine is now the owner of an unusual piece of jewelry. It's precious because it honors his son and because no other father in the world has anything like it. The memento needed White House approval before it was made.
Tony Galvez: "It's the only one in the world. You have to wear it with dignity and respect."
Take a good look at this ring, you won't see it anywhere else.
Tony Galvez, Gold Star Dad: "The Department of Defense says it's the only one. The Department of Heraldry says it's the only one."
It's one of Tony Galvez's most prized possessions.
Tony Galvez: "I feel proud to wear the ring."
It honors his son, Corproal Adam Galvez, who died this summer in Iraq.
Tony Galvez: "The price that was paid to earn the right to wear this is very, very high."
The story of this ring starts with another ring, a ring of Adam's sent back to the family when he died.
Tony Galvez: "So I started wearing it and it just didn't feel right. So asked a corporal if I could wear a gold star ring instead."
A gold star ring? Unheard of.
Tony Galvez: "I'm going, ‘What do you mean there's no such thing? There has to be.'"
There are gold star pins that family members received when they lose a loved one in war. Tony has one of those, but he wanted something he could wear all the time. So Tony asked permission from the White House if he could have a ring made.
Tony Galvez: "An official request has never been made, so I said, ‘Okay, consider this a request, I want one made.'"
Tony designed the ring with a man who specializes in military jewelry.
Tony Galvez: "We talked about what should be on the sides, in memory of Adam, with my son's name, and Eagle, Globe and Anchor on the side."
Tony wears it proudly, though he admits, in the end, he wishes he didn't have it.
Tony Galvez: "I would gladly give up not wearing the ring to have my son back; but since that's not going to happen, I'll take the ring in his memory, in his honor."
In the military, a gold star represents a family member lost in battle.
