By Brent Johnson
news@salisburypost.com
“He’s a comin’, he’s a comin’, ” the Amadeus Youth Chorus sang on a chilly Saturday morning, egging on “Old Man Winter” in front of Salisburians and vibrantly colored angels.The eighth annual “Celebration of Angels” event took place early Saturday at the Robertson Eastern Gateway Park, on the corner of Depot and Innes streets, featuring life-size painted angels with live holiday tunes, warm refreshments and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
The 40 angels painted by local artists are placed in the park, along downtown streets and in front of the churches.
“Everybody is camping out and the children are making ornaments,” said Shuntale Smith with Downtown Salisbury Inc.
With the help of sponsor F&M Bank and local business Frost Bites providing refreshments, Downtown Salisbury was able to promote and provide a spirited event that allowed the community to start the seasonal festivities together.
“Each year, there are more people,” said Betz McKeown of Downtown Salisbury. “It’s becoming a family tradition.”
Jane Jackman said she has driven by the angels before and was glad to be at the event.
“This is a great opportunity to see them up close,” Jackman said.
Dr. Karl Hales led the program with salutations and Christmas stories, including one about the assembly of a Christmas bicycle. In the story, a father and son attempt to build the boy a bike, resulting in comical catastrophes along the way.
Finally, they give up and take the project to an assembler, who completes the task.
The moral? “For what better than to be built by the maker,” Hales said, alluding to the real meaning of the Christmas holidays.
Performances by Jim Gobble on acoustic guitar, the Amadeus Youth Chorus directed by Dr. Phillip Burgess and Sarah Hall, and soloist Monica Ostroska were well received as people huddled and conversed through chattering teeth.
“I wish it was sunnier and a little warmer,” Janet Manuel said.
Manuel and companion Ruth Woodburn, hot chocolate in hand but still shivering, agreed the event was a success.
“This is great,” Manuel said.
Duane Broyles looked on as son Adam sang a solo in “Calling All Angels,” made famous by the band Train, with the Amadeus Youth Chorus.
“He wakes up singing, goes to bed singing. We can’t make him be quiet,” Broyles joked.
Adam, 14, was the children’s winner in the “Salisbury’s Got Talent” show and third runner-up in “Salisbury Idol.”
Isabella Almazan, Cecilia Rose Gil and Phoebe Shields dressed as young angels and handed out white angel pins to guests.
“This is the first time in six years I got my beard caught in the zipper,” laughed a jolly Mitch Hock, who dressed as Santa Claus.
Hock and wife Katherine Generaux have been playing Santa and Mrs. Claus for more than five years now.
“I like to get the kids comfortable,” Generaux said, handing out candy canes.
“She loves kids,” Hock said. “She gets them eased and ready for Santa Claus.”
The event began eight years ago with local artist Janie Allen’s contribution of imagination.
“We decided on the angel as an icon for the community,” Allen said.
After learning about a similar presentation of beautifully crafted angels taking place in California, Allen proposed the idea before the Holiday Decorations Committee.
“The people at Downtown Salisbury have been wonderful,” Allen said.
Local angel artists are Janie Allen, Anita Ammerman, Frank Carpenter, Jamie Charles, Mary Bentley Davis, James Donaldson, Dr. Claudia Gardner, Glen Gray, Daniel Hazard, Janet Isenhour, Marina Konovalova-Bare, Randy Leach, Kaneko McNeill, Pat Marsh, Lou Murphy, Bette Pollock, Marietta Smith, Betty Bonner Steele, Phyllis Steimel and Elizabeth Watson.
The featured angel for 2008 is Isenhour’s “Fame,” which depicts Salisbury’s Confederate Monument on West Innes Street.