Couple gets engaged during Celebration of Lights

The magic of the holidays was made even more memorable for one couple attending the Celebration of Lights in Downtown El Paso.

Lewis Arbogast Jr. proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Jessica Elizondo, under the Christmas tree in San Jacinto Plaza moments after the tree was lit Sunday evening.

“We’ve been friends for 20 years and finally made it official,” Arbogast told ABC-7 in a Facebook message.

Elizondo elaborated on their relationship in an email, adding, “We’re actually high school sweethearts reunited. We dated in high school, went our separate ways but stayed distantly in touch on and off throughout the years.”

Elizondo even included a picture of the pair from their Homecoming dance at Montwood High School in 1996.

Elizondo said she had moved back to El Paso from San Antonio several years back and they’ve been together almost the entire time.

“He said he was really happy when he found out I had moved back and told himself he wasn’t going to let me get away this time,” she said. “I love that he was literally my very first boyfriend, my first love, and he will be my last.”

The photos taken by the couple captured the moment Arbogast got down on one knee, of Elizondo flashing her new hardware to the camera, and the newly engaged couple with their children Olivia and Liam.

Congratulations to the happy couple!