Our Garden of Angels: Rick Waldroup Photography http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413 April 7, 2007 - Euless, Texas <br/><br/>On February 15, 1998, Amy Robinson was riding her bicycle to work when she met two of her co-workers on the street, Michael Wayne Hall and Robert Neville. Amy, a mentally challenged young woman of 19, worked at a local grocery store in Arlington, Texas. Arlington is a town of approximately 300,000 people located between Dallas and Fort Worth. The two young fellows told Amy they were going for a ride and talked Amy into putting her bicycle in the back of their pickup truck and to come along for the ride. That was the last time anyone saw Amy alive. <br/><br/>A few days later, Amy's body was found in a densely wooded area in far northeast Tarrant County, just outside the Fort Worth city limits. She had been shot numerous times with a 22-caliber handgun. The brutal and totally senseless murder shocked the City of Arlington and the entire Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex. Her two co-workers were quickly arrested and confessed to police that it was just a random act of violence. They were simply looking for a thrill, or as they described it, "we were just looking for something to do." Both were found guilty at their trials and both were given the death penalty. Robert Neville was executed Februry 8, 2006 and Michael Wayne Hall is still on death row awaiting his execution. <br/><br/>Amy's grandmother, Carolyn Barker, who was raising Amy at the time of the murder, later placed a single wooden cross at the scene of Amy's death as a roadside memorial. A few months later, the family of Vern Price, who was also a murder victim, came across the roadside memorial and they put a cross next to Amy's. Some time later, the family of Chad Houston, another murder victim, placed a cross at the site. Slowly, the site began to grow as word of mouth spread about the spot with "the white crosses." This was the beginning of Our Garden of Angels. <br/><br/>Carolyn Barker decided to start a homicide memorial park dedicated to the memories of loved ones who had been murdered. It is the first and only homicide memorial park in the United States, and quite possibly the world.. The park was officially opened in February of 2000. Crosses are placed at the park in memory of loved ones who lost their lives at the hands of others. The park quickly grew in size and private donations from corporations across the Dallas-Ft. Worth area helped with the care and maintenance of the park. Today, the park is run by President Greg Price, who also makes the memorial crosses for the park, and Vice-President Ric Nesbit. Both men have relatives that were murdered and a bond quickly developed between them and Mrs. Barker. They agreed to take over the day-to-day operation of the park. It is through their efforts and those of many volunteers that the park has become a national symbol of the victim's rights movement in the United States. <br/><br/>Starting in late 2005, through a donation of $75,000.00 from Southwest Airlines, the park began a major renovation complete with bricked walking paths, custom iron work fences and gates, a continuously flowing stream and waterfall, plus major landscaping detail work was done throughout the park. Sometime later land was donated across the street from the original park to expand the park to over 4-5 acres in size. A "meditation" gazebo was built on the new land and new crosses were added as well. <br/><br/>Saturday, April 7 2007, the day before Easter, marked the seventh anniversary of the opening of the park. A memorial service was held featuring guest speakers and live music. The day was overcast, windy, and extremely cold with snow flurries in the forecast. It turned out to be the coldest day in April in Texas in the last 69 years. April 7 is also Amy's birthday. <br/><br/>I arrived an hour early to shoot the park before the ceremony began. It is an eerie feeling walking alone among the many white crosses. The top of each cross states the victim's date of birth and the date of death is at the bottom. The one thing that becomes immediately apparent is that this is a living, breathing park. Many of the crosses are adorned with flowers, mementos, and odd and unusual items that once belonged to the victims. Except for an occasional car or truck passing by, it is quiet in the park. There is a beautiful bronze statue of two children playing, that at first sight, seems to be out of place. Later, Greg Price explained to me that the park has come to represent much more than just a memorial place with crosses. It is an "affirmation of life" he told me. Greg described how in the beginning he, Ric Nesbit, and Carolyn Barker wanted this park to be for the living, for the survivors of the victims. <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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."<br/><br/>UPDATE: February 15, 2011. Micahel Wayne Hall was executed today for the murder of Amy Robinson- exactly 13 years to the day that Amy was killed. en-us (C) Rick Waldroup Photography (Rick Waldroup Photography) Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:32:09 GMT Sat, 19 Nov 2011 19:22:55 GMT http://www.rickwphotography.com/img/s9/v17/p379322572-10.jpg Our Garden of Angels: Rick Waldroup Photography http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413 91 120 The white cross marks the actual location where Amy's body was found http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e571949A

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]]> http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e169C00CC Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:34:59 GMT The main entrance to Our Garden of Angels http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e1C6269F6

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]]> A small crowd starts to gather before the memorial http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e134E4C1E Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:38:07 GMT The cross of Sheri Coulson http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/eEB62DC1

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]]> The cross of Sheri Coulson http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/eEB62DC1 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:38:38 GMT Sheri Coulson's father http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/eD28E38D

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]]> Sheri Coulson's father http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/eD28E38D Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:39:07 GMT Family members and visitors decorate the crosses with flowers, photos, and other unique items. http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/eA5153EE

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]]> Family members and visitors decorate the crosses with flowers, photos, and other unique items. http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/eA5153EE Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:39:31 GMT Personal, intimate items from the victims are displayed in a silent, moving display of sorrow, love, and ultimately, hope for the future. http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e1CD299A

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]]> Personal, intimate items from the victims are displayed in a silent, moving display of sorrow, love, and ultimately, hope for the future. http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e1CD299A Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:40:01 GMT http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e8F73BA3

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]]> http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e8F73BA3 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:40:28 GMT This stone is located near Amy's cross http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e1167306E

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]]> This stone is located near Amy's cross http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e1167306E Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:40:54 GMT One of the many photos of the victims that adorn some of the crosses http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e15326FC0

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]]> http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e1E96B5B5 Sat, 19 Nov 2011 19:19:17 GMT A young mother and her child tour the park http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e1F4220CB

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]]> A young mother and her child tour the park http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e1F4220CB Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:42:16 GMT Megan Godley's cross http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/eE59667B

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]]> Megan Godley's cross http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/eE59667B Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:43:05 GMT Greg Price, one of the original founders of Our Garden of Angels http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e150D7109

]]>Mr. Price also makes all of the crosses for the park.

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]]> The cross of Vern Price, Greg Price's nephew http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e835DE5E Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:44:31 GMT Mr. and Mrs. Salter, standing in front of their son's cross http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/eB9D05D2

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]]> Mr. and Mrs. Salter, standing in front of their son's cross http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/eB9D05D2 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:44:56 GMT The Salter's son, Keith. This photo was taken the night of his prom. Keith never returned home that night. http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/eA34CA8C

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]]> The Salter's son, Keith. This photo was taken the night of his prom. Keith never returned home that night. http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/eA34CA8C Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:45:28 GMT Amy's cross inside the park http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e1368DEE5

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]]> Amy's cross inside the park http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e1368DEE5 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:45:53 GMT Amy Robinson's Grandmother, Carolyn Barker http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e146534D5

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]]> Amy Robinson's Grandmother, Carolyn Barker http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e146534D5 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:46:20 GMT A statue of children at play - celebrating the life affirming theme of the park http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e1A1A5063

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]]> A statue of children at play - celebrating the life affirming theme of the park http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e1A1A5063 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:46:50 GMT One of the many children at the park http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e13DB004B

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]]> Amy's birthday cake http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e100BDFE9 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:48:10 GMT This is the new addition to the park, across the street from the main enterance http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e1EE33C66

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]]> Easter eggs have been left for Jennifer Neil Thompson http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e1A419A6D Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:51:06 GMT http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e1AA5A830

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]]> http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/eAB42393 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:52:36 GMT The parents of Michelle Cosper. Michelle was abducted and murdered in 1998. She was just 15 years old http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/eC8CF421

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]]> The parents of Michelle Cosper. Michelle was abducted and murdered in 1998. She was just 15 years old http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/eC8CF421 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:53:04 GMT Ric Nesbit, Vice-President of the park, in a very emotional moment, speaks to the small gathering about the need for "healing" http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e18D8EDE4

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]]> Ric Nesbit, Vice-President of the park, in a very emotional moment, speaks to the small gathering about the need for "healing" http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e18D8EDE4 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:53:35 GMT Jazz recording artist, David Carr plays "Sounds of Innocence", a piece he worte especially for the memorial http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e115EF3C4

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]]> Jazz recording artist, David Carr plays "Sounds of Innocence", a piece he worte especially for the memorial http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e115EF3C4 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:54:03 GMT Praying for the victims http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e4031CDD

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]]> Praying for the victims http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e4031CDD Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:54:38 GMT Emotions run high at the conclusion of the memorial service http://www.rickwphotography.com/p5854413/e14588205

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