State House Ceremonies

Wreaths Across America's State House Ceremonies serve as a kickoff to a week-long series of events designed to raise awareness and appreciation for the sacrifices of our nation's veterans and their families. The ceremonies take place in most of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., and have a particular focus on family during the holidays.

Volunteers conduct the State House ceremonies each year in their respective state capitols on the Monday prior to National Wreaths Across America Day. Dignitaries and special guests are invited to speak in honor of our veterans and active military. The wreath-laying ceremonies are nonpolitical. All groups and members of the community are invited to attend.


Current point of contact for each state:

Alabama - Harry SessamenĀ 

Alaska - Sarah Hieb

Arizona - Kelly McDonald

Arkansas - Kathy Balkman

California - Carol Brush

Colorado - Ralph Nations

Connecticut - Art Sladyk

Delaware - Colinda Marker

District of Columbia - Wayne Hanson & Joel Levesque

Florida - David Wilson

Georgia - Pamela Lyle

Hawaii - Enrique Pacheco

Idaho - Tamara Earp

Illinois - Chaplain Steve Holden

Indiana - Rebecca Anspach

Iowa - Patrick Palmersheim

Kansas - Diana Pitts

Kentucky - Hayden Johnson

Louisiana - Georgia LaCour

Maine - Richard Barter

Maryland - Deborah McMeans

Massachusetts - George Andes

Michigan - Lt. Col. James Matthews

Minnesota - Carrie Niemann

Mississippi - Dr. Tim Lea

Missouri - Don Gerspach

Montana - Jane Lee Hamman

Nebraska - Deane Finnegan

Nevada - Laura Cline-Weber

New Hampshire - Linda Miccio

New Jersey - Michael Holt

New Mexico - Eleanor Ortiz

New York - Contact Needed

North Carolina - Shannon Powell

North Dakota - Contact Needed

Ohio - Brittnay McCall

Oklahoma - Connie Tate

Oregon - Tyler Francke

Pennsylvania - Senator Devlin Robinson

Rhode Island - Laurie Robinson

South Carolina - Carol Davis

South Dakota - Contact Needed

Tennessee - Annette Robeck

Texas - Charlotte Waldrum

Utah - Dennis Howland

Vermont - Benjamin Tisdale

Virginia - Michael Imperio

Washington - William Adams

West Virginia - Shaun Jedju

Wisconsin - Contact Needed

Wyoming - Bobbie Swanlund

If you do not see a point of contact for your state listed and are interested in hosting a State House Ceremony, please contact Julie Bright at 207-618-5078 or jbright@wreathsacrossamerica.org.