How did you get involved with Wreaths Across America? My introduction to Wreaths Across America was in the summer of 2008 (just a year after the organization was founded in 2007). I was working in public relations for a Portland-based ad agency, Kemp Goldberg Partners (later its name changed to Industrium), and we had just made an announcement about our opening a PR office in Washington D.C. WAA was looking to gain awareness in the D.C. region and wanted to work with a Maine-based company.

I was assigned to lead the nonprofit’s public relations strategy to grow awareness both in D.C., and nationally, for the program. I worked in this critical support role with WAA for nine years before being given the opportunity to join the team in-house in March of 2018 as the director of communications, a position I’ve proudly held since.

As director of communications, what is a typical day like or you? My role encompasses many areas, but in summary, I am responsible for all internal and external communications for the organization nationally. Over the last seven years, I’ve had the opportunity to build an incredible team with expertise ranging from social media, digital and direct marketing strategy, broadcasting, public relations and more. I oversee the groups’ efforts all year long and work with all WAA departments to ensure brand consistency in messaging, among other strategic roles including partnerships and sustainability. Every day is different, and in a lot of ways, I still think of my role as similar to my time in an agency, with each department being its own client I get to help.

The best days are when I have the opportunity to speak with a veteran or Gold Star family member and know that the work we are doing is making an impact. I have the honor of having met and call many friends, not only here in Maine, but across the country.

Tell me about the museum in Columbia Falls. Located at Wreaths Across America’s headquarters in Columbia Falls, Maine, is the organization’s National Museum. The museum is an 1,800-square-foot facility showcasing thousands of items that have been donated to the organization over the decades, including personal photos, awards, uniforms, helmets and other military memorabilia. All donations received are put on display as space allows and help to tell the greater story of the experiences of U.S. military personnel and their families. The museum is free to the public.

Next door to headquarters, we also have the Gold Star Family History and Hospitality House, which is an extension of our National Museum. This beautifully renovated home is open for tours and is also a free bed and breakfast where Gold Star Families can gather and share stories. As part of the renovation effort, WAA dedicated each room to an era of conflict in United States military history, offering a step back in time, hands-on experiences for visitors and guests staying in the home.

Is this the slow time of year or is the company making wreaths year round? Wreaths Across America is a national nonprofit best known for placing wreaths on the headstones of our nation’s service members each December. This is known as National Wreaths Across America Day, and this year this national event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. However, the mission of WAA — to remember the fallen, honor those who served and teach the next generation the value of freedom — is a yearlong one. We are headquartered in Columbia Falls, Maine, but have more than 4,900 participating locations throughout the United States!

Every $17 wreath sponsorship received (results in) a hand-made balsam veteran’s wreath (placed) on the headstone of an American hero in December, but there are several additional year-long programs this sponsorship also supports. Some of these include:

• Wreaths Across America’s TEACH Program with downloadable lesson plans and service-based learning for youth of all ages.

• The Mobile Education Exhibit is a museum on wheels that travels the country, sharing the mission and creating free events for the community while serving as a ‘Welcome Home’ unit for Vietnam War veterans.

• The National Museum and Gold Star Family History & Hospitality House are located at the National Wreaths Across America Headquarters in Columbia Falls, Maine. These exhibits allow guests to learn more about the mission while experiencing the many stories of service, sacrifice, and success shared with the program over the last 15 years.

• Our Veteran outreach efforts include partnerships with Veteran Service Organizations working to support living veterans and their families nationwide. We offer resources and access to support and host open discussions about important topics impacting this community via our owned channels, including Wreaths Across America Radio and A Voice for America’s Veterans. This commercial-free station shares stories of those who served and military families while highlighting the many like-minded programs supporting this demographic nationwide.

• The Remembrance Tree Program is a FREE program that allows individuals to create a replica dog tag for a loved one who served and select a tree to hang that tag. Every three years, the tree will be “tipped” to collect the balsam used to make veterans’ wreaths for placement on National Wreaths Across America Day.

As clarity, Wreaths Across America does not make wreaths. We have an approved vendor who sources, produces and fulfills our wreath contract based on sponsorships received for the program nationwide each year. Veterans’ wreaths are produced by our vendor starting in late October through the beginning of December and delivered across the country by a network of transportation partners that provide in-kind transport of wreaths to their final destination for volunteers to place.

If you have all the supplies, can you make a wreath? How long would it take? I’ll leave the wreath-making to our approved vendor, who does a wonderful, efficient job!

What do you like to in your free time? When not working with my husband on one of the many home improvement projects we have happening, I love to be outdoors in Maine. In recent years, I’ve put a lot of free time into learning and cultivating gardening skills. I enjoy hiking (or any long walk) and getting the opportunity to be a tourist in my home state.