A Symbol Of HOPE

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Posted by: Steve Hardwick
Date: Jul 07 2024 6:21 PM

I’m often asked why I did the Angel of Hope statue for parents who have lost a child if I’ve never lost a child myself.

On June 12th, 2016 it was all over the news that there was a mass shooting that took place at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida and left 49 people dead and more than 50 wounded. It was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history up to that time.

When I heard the terrible news I was in the middle of doing a fundraiser to raise money for Paresia Klink who was battling Stage 4 cancer.

On June 22nd, 2016…just 10 days after hearing about the mass shooting in Orlando, I got word that Paresia lost her courageous battle fighting cancer.

As soon as I heard the news I sat down in my chair and was thinking everyone will be talking about Paresia passing away and about the mass shooting but in a year people will probably unintentionally forget except for Paresia’s family and the families of the victims who lost their lives from the mass shooting.

WHAT COULD I DO FOR THE CHILDREN NO LONGER WITH US SO THAT THEY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN ?

THE ANGEL OF HOPE STATUE

Four Months Later thanks to Former Mike Schmitz, Ricky and Jane Saliba, Charles Metzger and many others the Angel Of Hope was completed.

The Angel Of Hope Statue is located in Dothan Alabama at Westgate Park.

It represents HOPE to all parents in the Wiregrass area who have endured the death of a child, it is a gravesite for parents that don’t have one.

It is a symbol of HOPE, a place to REFLECT, a place of HEALING and a special place for people to GRIEVE. .

There is a great spiritual wonder in this memorial statue.

This Angel is a symbol that represents and honors our children.

Our children will live in our hearts and lives forever.

Remember that our children live through us; and their lives can touch many others through us.

Parents need to feel HOPE that they will survive and move on, and that their children will never be...FORGOTTEN.

Steve Hardwick