BOISE, Idaho — Each year, people can find a very special Christmas tree inside the Idaho Capitol building. It is a tribute to Idaho's fallen soldiers since 9/11. Each year the tree is placed and decorated by the Gold Star Mothers, and friends and family of the fallen.
The ornaments, signage and tree were designed and handmade by Anna Workman and Dixie Walker of Rupert.
"We do it to honor Idaho's fallen soldiers and there are 85 ornaments on here," Workman said.
Workman is the loving mother behind every detail of this beautiful tree, called the Hero Tree. She lost her son Sgt. Chris Workman in Afghanistan in 2012.
"My son was killed in action on April 19th of 2012, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan," Workman said. "He was a door gunner on a Blackhawk helicopter."
She said the helicopter crashed, and all four men onboard died. Chris' death was devastating to his family. It has been eleven years now. She still lights up when she talks about her son.
"He was a great guy and he had friends all over," Workman said. "He was really well liked; he was so funny and he had a big heart."
After Chris' death, she said she needed something to put her heart into. The Hero Tree was it. She saw a similar tree created by a friend in Illinois.
"That's where I got the idea, and I used it as therapy because I needed something to do to honor not just him, but all of Idaho's parents and families. Our Gold Star families," Workman said.
She started small, honoring Idaho's fallen soldiers on a tree in the window of her family business in Rupert, Idaho. People loved it so much that several years ago, she asked for permission to bring the Hero Tree to Idaho's Capitol building.
She got a resounding yes.
"So, for the past four years we've been displaying the tree here at the Capitol," she said.
This year, it stands proudly by the Idaho Attorney General's Office for all to see.
"I got the Gold Star moms involved and the chapter of Gold Star Mothers have always helped put this tree up because of course their children are here too," Workman said.
She added each ornament is made with so much love.
"They are ceramic, they are fired in a kiln and hand glazed, and then I apply the names and the photographs of the soldiers individually," she said.
Putting the ornaments on the tree each year is emotional for her, but it's powerful too.
"We say their name every time we place the ornament on the tree, and we will continue to say their name every year," she said. "That's an important process of decorating the tree, we make sure we say their names and that way they will never be forgotten."
That means the world to parents like Ken and Joanne Larson. They lost their son Eric while he was serving our country in 2017.
"Eric was always a very happy person, willing to help anyone who needed it, would give the shirt off his back if he could," said Joanne Larson, Eric's mom. "He was so adventurous, and he has two sons of his own."
Christmas is tough for their family, they said, so adding Eric's ornament to the Hero Tree this year means so much.
"Yes, it really does," Ken said. "He used to come home almost every Christmas, and this helps us remember him and his sacrifice for us. We are just appreciative for organizations that do honor our veterans like Gold Star Mothers. A lot of times people don't understand the loss that we all went through."
The Larsons know that Workman does understand that loss. They share that heartbreaking bond because she is keeping these soldiers' memories alive.
"I just wanted to make sure that we pay tribute to Idaho's fallen soldiers and their families, especially during this time of year, they are missing their son or daughter, spouse, siblings, and we just want to make sure they know we are honoring them and that people will see them on this tree," Workman said.
This hero mom has a special request for people this holiday season.
"Just come down and see it, and just remember that this is a tough time of year for military families who have lost members. Come down and see it and honor them," she said.
You can honor the fallen and see the Hero Tree inside the Capitol building through the first week of January. It is located right next to the entrance to the Attorney General's Office.
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