Huge wreath honors all servicemembers

  • Published
  • By Army Master Sgt. Bob Haskell
  • National Guard Bureau
A Maine man is looking for photos of servicemembers from across the country who are engaged in homeland defense and the war against terrorism. He said he wants to attach the photos to a giant Christmas wreath that will be illuminated with 10,000 lights in Maine’s capital city every night through the rest of this holiday season.

The giant wreath, perhaps the largest one ever made, was lighted for the first time Dec. 13.

The wreath is a tribute to American servicemembers everywhere, said Augusta resident Corey Folsom. He is the chief designer for the wreath of evergreen boughs that measures 150 feet across and 496 feet around. It is also decorated with about 2,000 yellow ribbons.

It easily beats a 17-foot, 10.5-inch wreath, made of 5,983 plastic cups, which Guinness World Records lists as the largest Christmas wreath.

So far, about 100 photographs of Maine National Guard members and others in uniform, who are serving in this country and abroad, are attached to the wreath. It sits on a sloped piece of ground above Augusta just outside Camp Keyes, headquarters for the Maine National Guard.

Folsom said he would attach all photos of American servicemembers that are sent to him through the end of December. His address is 6 Flag Street, Augusta, Maine 04330. The photos should be laminated to protect them from the weather.

“This wreath is for (servicemembers) everywhere,” Folsom said.

About 1,100 members of the Maine National Guard are on active duty, or are about to be deployed, during this holiday season, said Maine Guard spokesman Maj. Peter Rogers.