200 help dedicate angel

SIDNEY, Neb. — Volunteers and donors were praised Saturday as Nebraska's first Christmas Box Angel was formally dedicated.

More than 200 people gathered at the ceremony that took place in Legion Park at Living Memorial Gardens.

The Angel of Hope was unveiled last October. While the formal portion of the project is completed, project organizer Rita Anest said more work and planning are needed as they prepare for the first Day of Remembrance.

She said author Richard Paul Evans requests that wherever an angel is placed that a ceremony be held on Dec. 6. The date commemorates the death of a child in Evans' book “The Christmas Box.”

In the book, a woman places a white rose at the base of an angel monument to mourn the death of her daughter. The original angel monument is at a cemetery in Salt Lake City.

Sidney's angel also is dedicated to anyone who has suffered a loss, is fighting a serious illness or is just looking for hope.

“We hope that everyone, through the years, will come and visit our angel, and we're proud that we have the first angel that is for everyone,” Anest said.

During Saturday's event, Sidney City Manager Gary Person praised the work done by the volunteers and those who believed in the project.

“The community of Sidney is indeed honored to have the very first Angel of Hope in the state of Nebraska. It means a lot to our community,” Person said.

Lisa Johnson and daughter Annie of Salt Lake City attended the dedication. Lisa Johnson is a childhood friend of the book author, and she serves as the official “angel representative” for all Christmas Box Angel Projects.

“I really have to pay tribute to everyone that worked on this site,” Johnson said. “It's absolutely stunning, and I want you to know there isn't anything like this in the country that even comes close to what you've done. It's beautiful.”

« Metro/Region

Share