The annual celebration by the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office to recognize victims of violent crime and their families and friends is tantamount to an in-person event.

The 19th Annual Angel Tree Ceremony takes place on Tuesday, December 7 at 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Bryan.

Family members and friends from the Brazos Valley are invited to participate in the ceremony by bringing an angel ornament to place on the tree.

As a result of the program, the tree will be moved to the Brazos County Courthouse, where it will be on display on the third floor for the remainder of the holiday season.

Brazos County Prosecutor’s Office Press Release:

On Tuesday, December 7, 2021, the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office will host the nineteenth annual Angel Tree Ceremony. This year the ceremony will be held in person at the First United Methodist Church in Bryan. The church is located at 506 East 28th Street, Bryan, Texas. The ceremony will start at 7:00 p.m.

In 2002, The Tree of Angels was first launched in Brazos County after People Against Violent Crime launched it in Austin, Texas in the early 1990s. The Tree of Angels ceremony recognizes that the holiday season is a difficult time for victims and their families. This special event honors families and friends who have lost a loved one to a violent crime by allowing them to bring an angel ornament to place on a special Christmas tree in remembrance of their loved one.

This ceremony is a respectful forum where the community comes together to commemorate and support victims of violent crime. Since its inception, the Tree of Angels has become a memorable tradition observed in all communities in Texas. This will be the nineteenth annual Angel Tree Ceremony in Brazos County.

Following the ceremony, the special Christmas tree will be on display on the third floor of the Brazos County Courthouse throughout the holiday season. Family members and friends from the Brazos Valley are invited to participate in the ceremony by bringing an angel ornament to place on the tree.

According to Victim Witness Coordinator, Melissa Carter, “Losing a loved one to crime is a horrific reality that many members of our community have experienced. This loss can be especially felt during the holiday season, as many of their cherished traditions now have a missing piece. This ceremony helps to comfort these families, while honoring and remembering their loved ones. Their memory and impact will be forever honored in our hearts and on our tree. “