Angel Statues  
  
The Christmas Box Angel Statue was introduced to the world in the book
The Christmas Box, a worldwide bestseller and hit television movie 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 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).  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 Christmas Box book is dedicated to Sue, the author's little sister. She was stillborn when Richard Paul Evans was only two years old, and his mother felt tremendous grief over the loss of a child. As was custom with stillborn babies, Sue was never buried, and there was never a gravesite. The author believes this story came from Sue to him to help their mother heal her grief. 
• The inspiration from the woman in the story came from a real-life woman who would go to the Salt Lake City Cemetery and grieve over the loss of her child. Her name and identity is unknown.
• The Christmas Box Angel monument was constructed by the renowned sculptor Ortho Fairbanks, and his son Jared Fairbanks. Ortho and his wife had lost a child, and found great significance in the statue. They donated much of their time to complete the monument.
• The monument was financed from proceeds of the book. 
• All of the publisher's and author's royalties from the printing of a special leather edition of the book go to charity.
• The face of the angel on the monument is modeled after Richard Paul Evans' second daughter, Allyson.
• There is much symbolism in the statue, including the word "HOPE" found in the angel's right wing. The reason the arms of the angel are outstretched are to welcome all that come to it, and to be lifted into the arms of a loving parent.

  Join us each December 6th @ 6:00PM for a candle light service in remembering our lost children. 

Our Angel as it appears over looking the Labyrinth Garden