FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A cherished memorial dedicated to deceased children in downtown Fargo, the Angel of Hope statue in Island Park, was recently defaced with green spray paint.
The vandalism, which occurred on Tuesday, November 11, involved green spray paint covering the statue, including an “X” over the word “Hope.”
Sheryl Cvijanovich, secretary for Fargo’s Angel of Hope, confirmed the incident after being alerted by a concerned parent.
“I think it was a combination of anger and sadness. I think anyone who is affiliated with the Angel of Hope, their first thought was, how can anyone do that to a monument for dead children?” Cvijanovich said.
The Angel of Hope memorial was installed in Island Park in 2005, and serves as a gathering place for parents and families grieving the loss of children.
It features engraved bricks with hundreds of names of deceased children.
Cvijanovich said her and others at Angels of Hope are less concerned with the vandalism, and more concerned about the wellbeing of the vandal.
She said, “There’s anger and there’s hurt, but I think there’s more concern for the person who did it. If it has something to do with a lost child or sibling, or their own child, or whatever, there are groups that can help.”
One day after the vandalism, the graffiti has already been cleaned up by the Fargo Park District.
The Angel of Hope organization plans to proceed with its annual candlelight memorial service, scheduled for 7 P.M. on December 7, offering a continued opportunity for remembrance and community support.
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