Free Photojournalism Magazine

Our Garden Of Angels - Page 3

Slowly, a small crowd started to gather, including several children. Many walked amongst the crosses, pausing here and there to read, to touch, sometimes to brush away a tear. Others hugged and laughed quietly as they recognized old friends, brought together by terrible circumstances. At one point, I put the camera down, sat down on one of the benches, and just watched. It is indeed a park about the living, about the survivors that carry on day to day, year to year.

Children come to the park and play, adults come to sit and reflect on the memories of their loved ones and each spring volunteers plant new flowers and trees. It is a breathing and living memorial to those who are gone, but never forgotten. Greg told me "we celebrate life here, not death." Perhaps Amy's grandmother, Carolyn said it best "We are about kindness, hope for tomorrow, and helping others." Then she turned away briefly and looked back and said. "Besides, today is Amy's birthday. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate her life than to be right here, today."

Above: Greg Price, President of Our Garden Of Angels being interviewed by local NBC television reporter. Mr, Price makes the white crosses for the garden. He has a nephew, Sam Price, who is memorialised at the the park with a cross. Sam Price was murdered over a pool game. He was a sailor in the United States Navy.

Left: Megan Godley lost her life at the hands of a teachers aide at a local day care center in Fort Worth, Texas, in January of 2005. She was two years old at the time of her death.

Below: Mr and Mrs. Salter. The cross for their son is one of the newest additions to the park. Mrs Salter told me that "Keith simply went out on a date and we never saw him again".

A bench directly in front of Amy Robinson's cross

Above: Amy Robinson's Grandmother, Carolyn Barker
Right: A statue of children at play - celebrating the life affirming theme of the park.

Previous Page | Home | Next Page