Video by Alana Rood.
![Pic 1](https://www.coppellstudentmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Pic-1-300x200.png)
By Summer Crawford
News Editor
@summercrawfordd
No one, no parent, imagines that recent moments with their child could very well be their last. For the Thompson family, Nov. 8, 2013 was the last time they would behold Zack’s smile.
Coppell parents Joe and Julie Thompson lost one of their three children, Zack Thompson. Zack passed away at the age of 19 from unknown causes, but, although his family, friends and community were grieving, they wanted to find a way to help others who had also lost a child. In order to do this, the family created the Zack Thompson Foundation, with Julie as president and Joe as vice president, aspiring to also create a garden and provide an Angel of Hope for Coppell.
On Nov. 15, Zack’s family was proud to present the opening of their butterfly garden to all in the community as a place of remembrance.
“It is the prayers, love, kindness, generosity and support of family, friends and community that make it even somewhat manageable,” Joe said. “The mission of our foundation is to provide help, comfort and a place of remembrance for parents, families and friends coping with the loss of a child. Our goal was to bring an Angel of Hope statue to the city of Coppell and have our angel reside in a beautiful garden dedicated to all of the children we have lost. Through the generous and overwhelming support from the City of Coppell, Rolling Oaks Memorial Center, our family and friends, we are standing here today.”
![The sons of Julie and Joe Thompson of the Zach Thompson Foundation unveil the addition of a statue to the Children’s Butterfly Garden in Rolling Oaks Memorial Center on Saturday. The statue is based off of the Angel of Hope from the book and movie by Richard Paul Evans, The Christmas Box. Photo by Mallorie Munoz.](https://www.coppellstudentmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Pic-2-300x200.png)
The Angel of Hope in the center of the garden comes from a book and movie called The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans. According to the story, a woman “mourns the loss of a child at the base of an angel monument.” The Christmas Box Angel was dedicated on Dec. 6, 1994, which is also the date of the child’s death in the story. This is also the year that Zack was born.
“The memorial butterflies featured throughout the garden pay tribute to those children taken from us and to the parents and families that must go on without them,” Joe said. “Each of the memorial butterflies have the name and inspirational message for a child lost too soon. In many spiritual circles, the butterfly represents the spirit or the soul.”
“A child does not have to be buried in Rolling Oaks to have a butterfly in the garden, as this garden is for the entire community to utilize as a place of remembrance, comfort, healing and hope. I can’t think of a more beautiful, honorable and respectful tribute.”
Throughout the ceremony, several speakers, including The Christmas Box Angel Representative from Salt Lake City, Lisa Johnson, gave their input on the healing power of the garden.
“There are a lot of heavy hearts here, and I can tell the community is very hard hit by losing children,” Johnson said. “I know if you could measure your pain scale, it would be at least a 10. I know that there are many times when your pain is bigger than you are. I also know that it is because you loved so deeply and so completely that you have that pain. My hope for all of you is that you come to this angel and feel the hope and peace that she offers, that is literally in her wings: hope.”
![Coppell High School senior Brianna Haynie sings Amazing Grace Saturday during the unveiling of a new statue in the Children’s Butterfly Garden at Rolling Oaks Memorial Center. Haynie sings at the church the founders and parents of the Zach Thompson Foundation attend and was specially chosen by the couple. Photo by Mallorie Munoz.](https://www.coppellstudentmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Pic-4-300x200.png)
From the City of Coppell, Mayor Pro Tem Marvin Franklin was also present at the ceremony to offer words on the mission of Coppell.
“The city has been quite intentional in its mission of being a family community for a lifetime,” Franklin said. “That includes this facility here at Rolling Oaks. The City of Coppell is so pleased and honored to partner with the Thompson family on something so inspirational and perpetual in its blessings to our community.”
The crowd was full of grieving parents, family members and friends for every child lost. Coppell parent Mona Logan, who lost her son, Jacob, two years ago, was one of the parents who laid white roses at the feet of the angel monument in honor of a loved one.
“I love [the garden] because it is, like the Thompsons say, a place where you can come and sit, talk to your child, talk to God,” Logan said. “It is a garden of hope where, when you walk this horrible road, you just need a place to get close to God, and this will be a beautiful place to do that.”
Singing “Amazing Grace” at the end of the ceremony was Coppell High School senior Brianna Haynie. Haynie sings at the Thompson’s Rejoice Baptist Church and was selected by Julie to lead the song.
![Founders and also the parents of the Zach Thompson Foundation place flowers on the new statue added to the Children's Butterfly Garden on Saturday at Rolling Oaks Memorial Center in honor of their son. The statue was unveiled by the two brothers of Zach Thompson during the ceremony. Photo by Mallorie Munoz.](https://www.coppellstudentmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Pic-6-300x200.png)
“I was really excited because part of what I love to do when I sing is to connect with people,” Haynie said. “Anytime I can sing at something that means something to other people it is awesome and it was a really cool experience.”
On Dec. 6 there will be a candlelight remembrance ceremony where, each child’s name whom the garden is dedicated to, will be read and flowers will be placed on the angel. The Thompson’s encourage anyone from the community to come and support those families in loss.
“These children are precious, loved and missed dearly. The Angel of Hope is here to love, honor and protect our children,” Joe said. “This garden was never just a project to Julie and me. This was a calling to help others facing the tragic loss of a child.”