Amarillo Tree of Angels ceremony consoles crime victims during holidays
The Christmas season isn’t bright for everyone. Movies, songs and advertising are associated with light and life, singing, giving and sharing with friends and family. But for many people, the season brings back loss, suffering and tragedy for those who have lost loved ones to domestic abuse, murder, and drunk driving incidents.
Around 200 people who were victims of such crimes gathered at the Santa Fe Building Auditorium to pay respects to loved ones they have lost. The 21st annual Tree of Angels Ceremony was held Friday evening by the Potter County 47th District Attorney’s Office to let those victims honor their lost ones and also know that they are not alone in their grief.
Participants were encouraged to bring or use an ornament provided in an adjacent room to hang on one of the two trees and state the victim’s name, when they died and what the cause was. Some were current and many, long ago. There were songs, prayer and a Potter County Sheriff’s Color Guard presentation to help those still suffering.
Ceremony attendee Olympia Guirre-Colin said that in December 2022, she lost five members of her family when a drunk driver hit her family’s car head-on while driving in the wrong lane. On that fateful night, 23-year-old Andrea Guirre, 46-year-old Angelica Colin, 88-year-old Raul Colin, 85-year-old Teresa Colin and 35-year-old Raul Perez Colin were killed when the other vehicle crashed into their car.
"They left in their car and never came back,” Olympia said. She said the Tree of Angels Ceremony helped her and her family know that they are not alone and they share their grief with other victims.
Organizer of the local event, Sonja Cuellar, director of victims services, said unfortunately the number is growing. “We had to add another tree because of the number of victims. I am honored to be the director of victim services for the 47th DA and am able to get this event planned for all our victims' family members. This is not just a job for me. I love helping others, even if it’s just being there for them during the court process.
“There is not one person who knows what to expect, resources to get or go to, or how to cope with everything after losing a loved one. That is why myself and other advocates at here, to help try to make it easier and to be here for them.”
The concept of Tree of Angels was initiated in Austin, Texas, by Verna Lee in 1991. She was Executive Advisor of People Against Violent Crime. Lee wanted to recognize the victims and their families by making it possible for loved ones to bring an angel to place on a special Christmas tree, which stays up for the season.
The adornment of the tree began with Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas and Amarillo Police Chief Martin Birkenfield, paying respects to enforcement officers killed or injured in the line of duty. Lt. James Clements, APD Homicide Unit Command, added ornaments to honor victims of unsolved homicides. Following that, members of the Amarillo Fire Department honored those killed or injured in the line of duty.
Victims' families were then able to place their ornaments on the trees in honor and memory of their loved ones killed by violent crimes.
The city of Amarillo was named the fourth most violent city in Texas by the FBI in 2022, with a violent crime rate of 8.36 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, almost twice the state average.
According to the Amarillo Police Department, the increase in violent crimes, such as homicides in the last few years, has involved many cases connected to “high-risk” lifestyles which include gang, drug or weapons involvement.
After the ceremony, participants talked and comforted each other. There were tears and hugs and people were able to recognize their pain with others feeling the same despair.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Potter County Tree of Angels holiday ceremony consoles crime victims
