John’s Story…
One of my favorite Christmas movies is Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
At the end of the movie, George Bailey’s daughter Zuzu proclaims,
“…every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.”
In 2021, while undergoing cancer treatments for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, and throughout the pandemic, I began designing and creating an ‘Angel’ Bell Christmas ornament made from coins. It is my hope that each and every time you place one of these ornaments on your tree, and hear the bell ring, you will be reminded of your loved one. Each ornament is hand made and created with your special someone in mind. All the coins are specifically chosen in order to honor the year your loved one was born, the state they called home, and the year they got their wings.
Suggestion ~ I have found that gifting or sending these Angel Bells the day after Thanksgiving is very impactful to the recipient as the first gift of Christmas.
More about me ~
I served in the United States Marine Corp for 20 years, then began a crop dusting career. I now work part time as an aerial firefighter. I have two adult children. My wife Diane and I have been together 18 years and reside in Colorado. As of 2023, by the grace of God and a team of great physicians, I am in remission from cancer.
The bell shown here (and above) is one I made for my wife, in honor of her father Richard who got his wings on April 1, 2022. This bell is made with a British half-crown for the date of his birth due to the fact that no US half dollars were minted in 1931 or 1932 during the depression. Having researched Richard’s ancestry, it seemed appropriate to use the half crown for his special, one of a kind, Angel Bell.
Since half dollars were not minted in the years 1931 and 1932, other coins can be chosen to complete your special bell. Email us at info@honorbells.com to discuss and to obtain a quote.