E-mail Story
Print Friendly
Send E-mail
Reprint story
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Soldier's Widow to Thief: Return My Husband's Ring
By Charles D. Brunt
Copyright © 2009 Albuquerque Journal
Journal Staff Writer
A trip to the gym Thursday night cost Syreeta Akin a lot more than sweat. It cost her a piece of her heart.
A car burglar took Akin's purse, which contained the dog tags that had belonged to her husband, Army Sgt. James C. Akin, and both of their wedding rings. James Akin was killed by an improvised explosive device in Iraq in June 2007.
Syreeta's blue Honda was among three cars broken into between 9:45 and 10:45 p.m. Thursday outside the Defined Fitness gym in the 4900 block of McLeod NE.
Akin, who had been married only 14 months when her husband died, said she kept his dog tags and the wedding rings on a chain that she always kept nearby.
"I just feel the need to have them with me," she said Friday. "I've always felt like, if I kept them on me or in my purse, that would be the safest place for them."
She's hoping and praying that whoever took her purse or whoever winds up with it will return the keepsakes that are inside.
"It would mean the world to me," to get the items back, she said. "For me, the sudden loss of them is similar to losing him. I feel I'm losing something I will never get back. There's no amount of money that can replace them."
Tips sought
Anyone with information about Syreeta Akin's missing purse, wedding rings or her husband's dog tags can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 843-STOP.
You also can send comments via our comment form
|
|
