Wreaths Across America remembers the sacrifice through hope

December 12, 2024

Wreaths Across America Morrill Worcester — Painting of Morrill Worcester who started Wreaths Across America. (Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)

Editor’s Note: This article is part three of a special series by Now Habersham spotlighting Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit rooted in Maine that honors the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans. Each year, communities in Northeast Georgia join thousands of others across the country in heartfelt wreath-laying ceremonies organized by this inspiring group. Reporter Nora Almazan and photographer Daniel Purcell journeyed to Maine in October to uncover the story behind this powerful tradition and the enduring patriotism that drives it.

Columbia Falls, Maine, located in the southern part of the state, is a place where lakes and mountains converge, creating a sense of paradise. The locals radiate warmth and hospitality, with a strong sense of patriotism that makes visitors feel like they belong.

I spent several days learning about Wreaths Across America with my team member, Daniel Purcell, from Now Habersham. Both of us were deeply moved by the people who call this area home. The phrase “forever changed” truly reflects how we both felt after our time there. It all began with a wreath company and its founder, who, as a young boy, visited Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., and never forgot the experience.

The beautiful Maine Balsam Forests are where the wreaths for veterans’ graves come. Nora Almazan walks with Karen Worcester and Renee Worcester on the property. (Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)

Morrill Worcester and his wife, Karen, established Worcester Wreath Co. on a balsam farm in a quiet corner of Downeast Maine. For more than 50 years, the Worcester family has managed thousands of acres of balsam forests and handcrafted exquisite wreaths and balsam products, honoring homes across the nation every holiday season.

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Walking through the property where thousands of Maine balsam wreaths and centerpieces are made brings a sense of peace. There is a quiet reverence that is hard to describe unless experienced firsthand. The fragrance of the Maine forests evokes not just the nostalgia of Christmas, but also a deep sense of remembrance. The wind whispers through the trees, carrying with it the faint sound of dog tags once worn by soldiers, now hung from branches as a tribute to the sacrifices made for freedom. Families of veterans attach dog tags to trees to honor their loved one’s service.

Dog tags of servicemen and women hang from the branches of the Balsam trees which provide the branches that make the wreaths. (Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)

What makes this organization truly unique is that it goes far beyond wreaths. While the wreaths placed on veterans’ graves across the country are a powerful symbol of honor, the impact of Wreaths Across America extends much further. It’s not just about the thousands of volunteers who contribute to this meaningful cause; it’s about healing the families left behind. It’s about turning pain and sorrow into a tribute of hope and remembrance.

The Worcester family embodies patriotism. Those who join this cause are often the very individuals who have lost loved ones—whether a child, parent, or spouse—in service to our country.

Monument on the property the Worcester children created to honor their father, Morrill Worcester, for Wreaths Across America. (Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)

Wreaths Across America offers these families a way to channel their grief into purpose. Few organizations possess the depth and resolve to both teach and preserve history, while also celebrating the lives of those who have dedicated themselves to keeping America free.

Saturday, December 14, is National Wreaths Across America Day and an opportunity for you to get involved in your community and your nation. You can contribute by sponsoring a veteran’s wreath in honor of or in memory of a loved one who served in our armed forces. Or, use your sponsorship to allow Wreaths Across America to designate a recipient among the millions of heroes who rest in honored glory.
Giving a veteran’s wreath is a personal gift of gratitude and remembrance for someone who served this country so that we can be free, but it also supports the yearlong mission to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the next generation the value of freedom while making new and existing free programs available to the masses. With each sponsorship made, a veteran’s wreath will be placed to honor an American hero at participating locations this year on National Wreaths Across America Day.

There are opportunities to volunteer to help honor our veterans throughout the year. From laying wreaths locally to leading a sponsorship group or coordinating a ceremony location, there are many ways to get involved.