Groundbreaking for Angel of Hope Memorial Garden

Tampa, Florida - It's been five years in the making but on Saturday the groundbreaking ceremony was finally held for a very special place. It's dedicated to children who've died, no matter what their age or cause of death. It's called the Angel of Hope Memorial Garden.

Beverley Hurley is the organizer of the effort and says, "We have grandchildren, we have cousins, we have nieces and nephews, we have brothers and sisters and, so far, we have about 275 engraved bricks that people have purchased in memory of their children that will be placed in the garden and around the angel and it's going to be very beautiful."

It's a heartbreaking place for loved ones who are enduring the unthinkable. Saturday morning, several dozen people attended the groundbreaking for the memorial garden in Riverside Park on Riverhills Drive in Temple Terrace. The goal is to give friends and loved ones a place to not only grieve but to heal.

Hurley says, "It will be hope and healing for them. We want it to be an uplifting place for them to come to. You can see the park is beautiful. It's centrally located for the whole Tampa Bay community."

Many of the people who attended the ceremony wore buttons showing their deceased loved ones pictures as a tribute, while others quietly wiped away tears. Hurley says, "It's going to be a nice place to come where families can still play. We know that life goes on but we also don't want our children that have died to be forgotten."

The Angel of Hope Memorial Garden is expected to be finished on October 4th. Organizers hope to have their official dedication at that time.