The Angel of Hope’s Story
The Angel of Hope was inspired by Richard Paul Evans’ national bestseller, The Christmas Box. It is a story of a woman who mourns the loss of her child at the base of an angel monument. The monument that the fictional tale speaks of once existed, but was destroyed by floods in 1984. Richard Paul Evans commissioned a new angel in response to reports of parents seeking out the angel as a place to grieve and heal. The monument is in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah. The angel was dedicated on December 6, 1994 – corresponding with the date of the child’s death in The Christmas Box. The sculpture is the creation of a father and son, Ortho and Jared Fairbanks, from Salt Lake City. It was modeled according to the description in Evans’ book. If you look closely, you can find the word “hope” in the angel’s right wing. You can read more about Richard Paul Evans and The Christmas Box at his website, www.richardpaulevans.com.
The Angel of Hope was brought to Fargo to support parents who have lost a child of any age from any cause. May you find healing and comfort in its presence. Our Angel is one of more than 150 in the United States. For a list of the other Angels of Hope please visit www.richardpaulevans.com/angel-statues/locations.
Here are some photos of volunteers getting our Angel of Hope and remembrance bricks set up and installed in Fargo on October 4, 2005.
