Vermont Angel of Hope

The Vermont Angel of Hope Statue was dedicated on August 19, 2001 to all those who have lost children. It is located on Route 4, near intersections of Route 7 and Route 4 East, in Rutland Vermont.

History

Vermont Angel of Hope statue is located in Rutland Vermont.

Directions

Leave Peace of Mind Emporium driveway and turn Right onto Route 4 WEST. Travel 2.5 miles.

Turn RIGHT onto Deer Street at the stop light intersection with a car wash and Beauchamp & O'Rourke Pharmacy on left.

Immediately turn LEFT into a parking lot. You will see the Angel Statue straight ahead. Handicapped accessible.

When Richard Paul Evans wrote the #1 best-seller, The Christmas Box, he never intended on becoming an internationally known author. The Christmas Box was written as an expression of love for his (then) two daughters. In 1993, Evans reproduced 20 copies of the final story and gave them to his closest relatives and friends as Christmas presents. In the month following, those 20 copies were passed around more than 160 times, and soon word spread so widely that bookstores began calling his home with orders for the story.


The face of the angel is that of Evans' second daughter, Allyson-Danica.

His quiet story of parental love and the true meaning of Christmas made history when it became simultaneously the #1 hardcover and paperback book in the nation. Since then, more than eight million copies of The Christmas Box have been printed. The award winning CBS television movie based on The Christmas Box starred Maureen O'Hara and Richard Thomas and went on to be their #1 rated television movie of 1995. Evans's second book, Timepiece, was produced by Hallmark as a major television production starring James Earl Jones and Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn. Evans's third book in The Christmas Box Collection is titled The Letter.

Of his success, Evans says: "The material achievements of The Christmas Box will never convey its true success, the lives it has changed, the families brought closer together, the mothers and fathers who suddenly understand the pricelessness of their children's fleeting childhood. I share the message of this book with you in hopes that in some way, you might be, as I was, enlightened."

The Christmas Box Angel Statue was introduced to the world in this book, The Christmas Box.

In the story, 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 to grieve and heal. The monument was dedicated on December 6, 1994-corresponding with the date of the child's death in The Christmas Box (Coincidentally, Dec. 6th is celebrated in many parts of the world as Children's Day). At the request of Sexton Paul Byron and Salt Lake City Mayor Deedee Corradini, Salt Lake City donated the land on which the monument stands. The sculpture is the creation of a father and son from Salt Lake City, Utah, Ortho and Jared Fairbanks, and modeled according to the description in Evans' book. The face of the angel is that of Evans' second daughter, Allyson-Danica.


The brick landscaped patio is in the shape of an angel so planes flying overhead can look down on Rutland and see an angel.

If you look closely you can find on the angel's right wing (west) the word "hope." Flowers, sent from around the world, adorn the base of the monument year round, accompanying notes left by parents for their "little angels." Since the dedication of the First Christmas Box Angel Statue in 1994, Richard Paul Evans received requests from all over the country to place Angel statues in other communities. He writes eloquently of this life changing phenomenon in the book, The Christmas Box Miracle.

Rutland, Vermont's Own Angel of Hope

    In Rutland, Vermont, Cindy Merola received a gift, a small replica of the Angel of Hope, and decided our community needed an angel statue of its own. She rose to the challenge of raising over $100,000 in monetary and in kind donations to bring the Vermont Angel of Hope to Rutland. Rutland Mayor John Cassarino donated the land. Many organizations and businesses helped to create a beautiful oasis for the Vermont Angel of Hope. On August 19, 2001, this statue was dedicated in a beautiful ceremony as over 250 names of deceased children were read as parents, relatives, and friends listened.
           The paved landscaped patio is in the shape of an angel. The angel herself faces due East because the sun rises in the east, and the dawn of every new day offers hope. That is what the Angel represents ~ HOPE. The base is carved from Vermont quarried granite. The gardens are planted and maintained by volunteers. Everyone is welcome to help.
            The Vermont Angel of Hope is beautifully lit at night and may be visited year round. Many people find it comforting to leave small tokens or flowers in memory of their child at the base of the angel.
             An annual candlelight vigil is held every December 6 at 7pm at the Angel of Hope. (regardless of weather) Names of deceased children will be read.

If you would like to add a child's name to our list, please call Cindy at (802) 775-5211.
Donations are welcomed. Send to: Vermont Angel of Hope, c/o Jack Merola, TD Banknorth, P.O. Box 999 , Rutland, VT 05702

The Vermont Angel of Hope is beautifully lit at night and may be visited year round.

Angels Among US CD

In the Fall of 2003, our Steinway piano recording artist friend Steve Hall from Los Angeles, was in Rutland performing a concert to benefit the Rutland Womens Shelter. Steve and his wife Robyn visited the Vermont Angel of Hope statue. They were so moved that Steve arranged and recorded an album, Angels Among Us, and dedicated it to the Rutland Vermont statue. The featured horn player on the album, Dan Savant, was an arranger and composer of music for the hit TV series, Touched by an Angel, for ten years.

Little did Steve know when he recorded the album that the title song, Angels Among Us was the featured song performed by a two soloists and a childrens' choir at the Vermont Statue dedication. And the music box that begins the song is a key component used in the book, The Christmas Box. (for some reason he didn't have time to read the book before he recorded the album). The album is a best seller, and the song, Angels Among Us is now used at Angel Statue dedications.

Angel Statues in Place Throughout the World

In addition to the angel in the Salt Lake City cemetery, and in Rutland Vermont, there are Christmas Box Angels in more than 80 other locations in the United States. All are open to the public. For a list of the Angel Statues click here.

For a book written about the Angel Statues, Angel Tales, by Deneene Florino. Find out more here.


Vermont Angel of Hope Plaque

Annual Candlelighting Ceremonies Throughout the United States

Each December 6th (7 p.m. EST) a candlelight healing ceremony is held at more than 100 Christmas Box Angel monuments. After a few remarks, a moment of silence, and music or singing, the reading of names in memoriam, the attendees are invited to leave a white flower at the base of the angel statue. The public is welcome at every ceremony.

Visit the Christmas Box Angel's web page: www.richardpaulevans.com.

May We Suggest...

If you enjoyed reading about the Vermont Angel of Hope, and would like to read more, we think you will love any of the following titles:


The Angel Tales Click to Buy	The Christmas Box Click to Buy	The Christmas Box Miracle Click to Buy	The Letter Click to Buy	Timepiece Click to Buy	Surviving and Thriving: Grief Relief & Continuing Relationships Click to Buy	Angels Among Us Music CD Click to Buy