Remembrances of the Angels: 50th Anniversary Reminiscences of the Fire No One Can Forget
Remembrances of the Angelsis a heartbreaking, sobering reflection on life and loss, faith and hope. Even fifty years after the disaster, we remain in shock and pain at the terrible loss of life at Our Lady of the Angels. Each reflection in this book gives the reader a fresh piece of truth. Anguished parents and young school-age victims of the blaze recall a moment in time never to be forgotten.Chicago Tribunereporter Bob Wiedrich presents a view almost too horrible to read. It is my prayer that the mercy of God continue to strengthen all those who survived. (Edward M. Burke, Alderman, Chicago City Council)In the aftermath of the Our Lady of the Angels School fire of December 1, 1958, many survivors and their families were told to forget the tragedy and go about their lives. No grief counselors in those days. Now John Kuenster, to mark the 50th anniversary of this tragedy, has followed up his earlier masterpiece investigation of the fire,To Sleep with the Angels, with a new volume of remarkable eyewitness recollections. No one who reads this book will ever forget what happened that bright, cold, tragic day fifty years ago. This book honors not only those who died and were seriously injured, but it will save lives in the future. An unforgettable read. (John CallawayChicago Public Television (WTTW))The assemblage of all the disparate bits of the story inRemembrancesmakes for a heartbreaking montage of sorrow, horror, acceptance, regret and anger—and for a page-turner of a book.(Chicago Sun-Times)