G.A.R. Cemetery to dedicate ‘The Christmas Box Angel’ and hold their first annual “Angel of Hope Candlelight Remembrance Ceremony”
On December 6th, at 7:00 p.m. G.A.R. Cemetery will hold a dedication for our Christmas Box Angel and our first annual “Angel of Hope Candlelight Remembrance Ceremony”. Tammy Wilcox will perform on her harp before the ceremony begins. An opening prayer will be given by Robert Wright, City of Miami Fire Chief. Eli Bunce, Commerce Middle School, and Lily Jackson, Miami High School, will then sing the song I can only Imagine, followed by a moment
of silence. At that time all attendees will be invited to place a white carnation provided by G.A.R. Cemetery, at the base of the angel statue while the name of their loved one is read aloud.
The Christmas Box Angel statue was introduced to the world in the book The Christmas Box, a worldwide bestseller by author Richard Paul Evans. In the book, a woman mourns the loss of her child at the base of an angel monument. Though the story is mostly fiction, the angel monument once existed but is speculated to have been destroyed. The new angel statue was commissioned by Richard Paul Evans in response to reports that grieving parents were seeking out the angel as a place of healing. The Angel is made of bronze and stands 4′ 3″ tall and has a wingspan of 5′ 2″ and stands upon a 4′ solid granite base. If you look closely you
can find on the angel’s right wing, the word “hope”.
G.A.R. Cemetery has designed a new section west of the gazebo in which is named “Garden of Angels”. This new section has at its center The Christmas Box Angel, one of less than 200 in the world.
“This project is something the G.A.R. staff is very excited about. Funds for this project came from the Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund which is derived from 25% of all the land sales within G.A.R. Cemetery and are set aside for improvements at the cemetery.” ~ Fred Billups; G.A.R. Cemetery Manager.
“The loss of a child is life changing, and this new area within G.A.R. will give our families a special place to go to remember their child. We want all to come that may benefit from the support and healing that we hope to offer.” ~ Kim Horn, Human Resources/G.A.R. Cemetery Director.
For more information you may call the G.A.R. Cemetery office at (918) 541-2288
