Published: May 15, 2008 12:07 am      

Jennerstown woman’s creation oversees wedding of president's daughter

JENNERSTOWN — A 20-foot-tall Somerset County lady became a VIP at Jenna Bush’s wedding in Crawford, Texas, last weekend.

Freedom’s Angel of Steadfast Love, one of four such steel angel sculptures, was crafted and delivered by Jennerstown artist Lei Hennessy-Owen in October 2004.

After locals adorned the angel with a wedding veil and bouquet in honor of the nuptials of President Bush’s daughter, the dressed-up sculpture made newspapers nationwide as a symbol of the ceremony.

The event itself was closed to the media, so photographers were limited to scenes from the town of Crawford – and the angel became the public “face” of the wedding.

Owen said she is delighted that one of her angels became part of a celebration. The sculptures have been placed at sites of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, including the Flight 93 crash site near Shanksville, as a symbol of comfort and hope in the face of tragedy.

“It came from God,” Owen said. “It doesn’t get much better than this.”

Owen was at home Saturday morning when friends started to call, saying her sculpture had made national news.

Bill Johnson, who lives about 20 miles outside Crawford and near the Bush ranch, said the angel has been a blessing since it was placed in downtown Crawford, population 705.

“It really has been a high point,” Johnson said. “When we put it up, it was a pretty big deal.”

The local chamber of commerce and several residents prepared a space for the angel’s arrival and dressed her for the big day last week.

“It was appropriate,” Johnson said. “I think (Laura Bush) is an angel. She has a quiet peace about her. I think their daughters got to be the same way.”

Johnson, who hosts large parties for soldiers and their families, said Owen has become a close friend since she dedicated the angel to the president.

“Lei has been very special to us. All people are who have supported the president and the troops,” he said.

The attention has pushed Owen to pursue an idea she has been mulling for a couple of years now: To form a nonprofit organization.

Delivering Angels would sell her sculptures – large and small – and forward the profits either directly to soldiers or to organizations that support the troops.

While she still is ironing out details, she and other soldiers’ mothers would band together to sell the angels online. Owen’s 22-year-old son is a Marine who has served two tours in Iraq.

“We want to help soldiers out as much as we can,” she said.

For more information, e-mail angels@deliveringangels.com.