It All Started With A Dream

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Posted by: Steve Hardwick
Date: Jul 12 2018 1:17 PM

Two years ago today I envisioned a place in our community where parents could come to find comfort and healing by knowing that their child who is no longer here would always be Remembered.

That thought came to me while I was sitting I my chair. Many asked had I lost a child and I told them Thank God no I haven’t but I have gotten very attached to children who had cancer and lost their battle. It was because of them that I wanted to do something.

Some mistakenly think that the Angel Of Hope statue is just for the children who died from cancer.
The Angel of Hope statue is for Every Child who is no longer with us including miscarriages.

Many parents mourn each day from the loss of their child by miscarriage and unfortunately some are told to move on ..they can have another one. Many never say a word about their miscarriage and hold the pain deep inside of them. To all of you who have lost a child by miscarriage I invite you to come visit the Angel of Hope...your child will not be forgotten either.

Because of Ricky and Jane Saliba who own Saliba Construction the project was completed much faster. Amazing how God puts people in your life for a reason. I was having lunch one day at Barrentines and Rickey walks in and sits 2 chairs down from me...he leaned over and said " I’d like to help you with the statue."

Thanks to Mike Schmitz who was Mayor of Dothan at the time for everything ...he told me he would ride around and look for a place to put the statue. When he called me and said meet me at Westgate Park I said I will be there in 10 minutes. He was there waiting on me and pointed to the area where the Angel of Hope statue now stands. Tears immediately started falling down..it was the perfect location. He contacted David Crutchfield and the rest of the Dothan City Commissioners and it was quickly approved. Mike called me and said "Steve You’ve Got The Green Light". Thanks to current Mayor Mark Saliba ,City Manager Mike West , Dothan City Commissioners, Charles Metzger, Dothan Utlitities And the Dept Of Leisure Services for their amazing support to me and to the Angel Of Hope Statue.

Thanks to the amazing Wiregrass Angel Of Hope Board Members and to the Friends Of The Angel for your love and support.

But most importantly, I give all the credit to My Lord And Saviour for making the Angel of Hope statue such a huge success. I felt his presence from beginning to end and nothing stood in its way thanks to Him.

On the back of the statue is inscribed:
All Our Children Loved, Missed And Remembered

YES TOGETHER WE CAN DO ANYTHING

AND TO ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THE ANGEL OF HOPE

I LOVE YOU

STEVE HARDWICK