Commissioner's Court Proclaims Tree of Angels Week in San Angelo

The first Tree of Angels ceremony was held on December 3, 1991, where 23 victims gathered to place their angel ornaments on a 5 foot tree in 15 x 15 office in Austin, Texas. This ceremony was the idea of Verna Lee Carr, a member of People Against Violent Crimes, who was dedicated to helping families during the aftermath of a tragedy.

In December of 2000, Governor Bush issued a statewide Proclamation acknowledging Tree of Angels week in Texas, which has now expanded to Oklahoma and even Australia.

Even though this has been an ongoing thing in San Angelo for 14 years, at Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Court, county commissioners approved to proclaim the week of Dec. 7 through 13 as Tree of Angels week.

Unit coordinator of the Tom Green County Crisis Intervention Center, Rita Guthrie, stated, “I think it shows support from our county officials for victims of violent crimes.”

Currently, a tree is set up at Emmanuel Episcopal Church where families can go and place their angel ornament on the tree.

“If they don’t have an angel ornament, we will have some there on hand that they can mark with their loved one’s name and hang it on the tree," Guthrie said. "We keep the ornaments from year to year and place them out on a table, so when the survivors come back next year, they can get that ornament and hang it back on the tree. It doesn’t have to be a victim of homicide. It could be a victim of any kind of crime. A victim of domestic violence can come place an angel on the tree.” 

On Friday morning, the tree will be moved from the church to the justice center and will be on display for the community to observe. Guthrie noted, “I think it lets [victims] know that they’re not alone--that there are other survivors and other people who care about them. It gives them a chance to honor that victim by placing that angel on the tree. It’s a symbol of their love and remembrance.”

For more information on the Tree of Angels, please visit www.treeofangels.org.