AUGUSTA – A giant wreath measuring 150 feet across with 10,000 lights will be illuminated each night at the home base of the Maine National Guard to pay honor to Maine soldiers serving overseas.

The wreath was lighted for the first time Saturday night at Camp Keyes, where the commander of the Maine National Guard told about 200 people to remember the children of the men and women who will leave next month for duty in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

“It’s very difficult to look these children in the eye with their parents away. Help them out. Take a moment to say hello to them, to cheer them up,” Maj. Gen. Joseph Tinkham said.

The wreath, which measures 496 feet around, is adorned with about 2,000 yellow ribbons and hundreds of photographs of Maine soldiers. It will be illuminated from 5 to 10 p.m. daily through Christmas and possibly into January.