County of Angel: Franklin County
Location of Angel: Walking trail, behind All Abilities Park, Washington
"Mostly all of us have read or heard of the book "The Christmas Box" by New York Times bestseller, and local Utah author, Richard Paul Evans. A young couple moves in with a widow to help care for her and her home. Little by little they discover secrets that the widow has been keeping. They find her crying at an angel monument, and uncover a story of tragedy and heartache.
• 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." ~ Enjoy! Utah