8 Years Ago

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Posted by: Steve Hardwick
Date: Jul 19 2024 9:25 PM

HOPE

If you only carry one thing throughout your entire life, let it be
HOPE.

On a July night 8 years ago I was sitting in my chair and a thought out of nowhere came into my head.....

Something needs to be done to remember all the children who are no longer with us.

Now as I look back at that evening in a July I had no idea that the month of July each year is Bereaved Parents Awareness Month.

Somethings in life are just meant to happen??

My mind kind of goes blank after that as to how I came up with the idea of the Angel Of Hope...but I remember calling Mike Schmitz who was the Mayor of Dothan at that time to tell him my idea.

I was unaware that he was in London so when I called him it was around 3 am in the morning when he answered. But he still listened to my idea and said...

“Steve I’m behind you 100% and when I get back from London I will call you”

Well after that call the wheels were in motion and I am so proud to say that 6 years ago on this day the 19th Of July...
The Dothan City Commission gave me the green light to proceed with the Angel Of Hope coming to Dothan.

I am also very proud to say that on this day...July 19th...6 years ago I told the Mayor and City Commissioners that the Angel Of Hope would not cost them a dime..I just needed a place to put it.

Mike Schmitz called me 2 weeks later and said meet me at Westgate Park. There he showed me the spot that he would offer me with the commissions approval.

With tears in my eyes..I looked at Mike and said it’s the perfect place.

And from that day it took only 4 months for one of Dothan’s most beautiful sites to be completed.

You never know who you might run into sitting on a barstool at Barrentine’s . Two seats from me Ricky Saliba was eating a hotdog,maybe 3 or 4 of them, and he leaned over and said I would like to help you with the Angel Of Hope.

I’m certainly not a genius but I quickly learned that when a major general contractor like Saliba Construction that has built hospitals, banks, nursing homes etc says they are going to help...THEY ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO HELP IN A VERY BIG WAY!!!

I kept my promise to the City Commission...The Angel Of Hope has not cost them a dime.

The entire area with All the beautiful trees and flowers including the black rod iron fence was all paid for through donations.

It is solely maintained by the Wiregrass Angel Of Hope.

So when you drive by or stop and look at it remember it couldn’t be done without You and Your donations to the Angel Of Hope.

A Dream Has Come True

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all who have helped to keep her looking beautiful 8 years later.
STEVE HARDWICK

WIREGRASS ANGEL OF HOPE