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DKG Practice/Program

DKG Maine Cross-Border Conference:
September 23–24, 2023
After the successful gathering in Fredericton, the plan was to
alternate between New Brunswick and Maine venues every other
year and to continue the 2-day format. Unfortunately, COVID
interrupted Maine’s plan to host the cross-border weekend in
2021. However, Maine members hosted a successful event in
Columbia Falls, located in far eastern Maine, in the fall of 2023.
The “Connecting Across the DKG Maine-New Brunswick
Border in ‘Sunrise County’ of Downeast Maine” event was held
at the headquarters of Wreaths Across America, where members
toured three memorable sites: the Veterans’ Museum, the
Hospitality House for Gold Star families, and the neighboring
historic Ruggles House Museum.
Attendees were treated to a delightful, enlightening tour
of the 1,800 square foot museum by a knowledgeable guide,
Nancy Willey, a 92-year-old DKG member, retired teacher,
and museum volunteer. She shared several fascinating stories
about the military exhibits to honor veterans who had fought Maine State Organization’s Past State
for their country’s freedom. The treasures included military President Mary Hyland introduces
uniforms, helmets, personal awards, and relevant memorabilia. speaker Dr. Lace Marie Brogden at the
2023 conference.
A room-sized diorama of soldiers camping on a sandy beach in
Vietnam evoked a realization of the hardships experienced by
these heroes. The museum was meaningful to members from both countries because their veterans served
during the same wars.
The heart-warming Hospitality House honors Gold Star Military Families and veterans by allowing
them to stay there at no cost. Participants were impressed by the rooms, each decorated in the period of a
different war era and dedicated to a particular veteran.
Later, those in attendance were treated to a guided tour of The Ruggles House, a Federal-style home
built in 1820, where members and descendants of the Ruggles family lived for 100 years. This historic site
features a beautiful flying staircase, and the building is a showcase of historic furnishings and antiques.
Over the years, it has been restored and preserved by volunteers and by the last resident, Mary Ruggles
Chandler, who was the first woman pharmacist in the state of Maine. She maintained an herb garden on
the property from which she concocted various medicinal tinctures. Much like the Founders of DKG, she
was a woman ahead of her time.
Before dinner, the cross-border group had a bus tour of Balsam Valley, a 48,000-acre tree farm known
as the ‘‘Tip Land.” This site was so named because the act of harvesting balsam fir branches for wreath-
making is known as “tipping.” The Worcester family has farmed balsam for years, cultivating and tending
acres of forest land to make wreaths. Morrill Worcester began the program called “Wreaths Across
America” when his company had a surplus of wreaths. He decided to take them to Arlington National
Cemetery, near the U.S. capital, Washington, DC, to put on soldiers’ graves. What once was a strictly for-
profit business known as Worcester Wreath Company has transitioned to a supplier of wreaths that are now
placed before Christmas each year on the graves of American veterans across the United States to honor
fallen soldiers and any who served.
Family members and friends of veterans may purchase dog tags engraved with loved ones’ names and
military information and tie them to the branches of trees in the Tip Land to honor their service. The name
of the loved one is always announced prior to the placement of the tag. Veterans and family members

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