This year, the Holliston Drug & Alcohol Awareness Coalition (HDAAC) decorated a remembrance tree at Blair Square, to honor the lives lost to opioid overdose and substance use disorder. The tree stands quietly among the holiday lights, but its meaning is profound. Every ornament represents a person who was loved deeply. A son. A daughter. A Sibling. A neighbor. Someone whose absence is felt every single day.
Visit this tree for a moment of reflection, prayer, gratitude, or quiet acknowledgment. Your presence matters. Taking time to recognize these lives helps reduce the stigma that too often surrounds substance use disorder. As you look at the ornaments, imagine the full life behind each one. The jokes that were told. The music they loved. The dreams they carried. The families who continue to carry their memory with love. This tree reminds us that in order to heal we must acknowledge the far reaching impact of this opioid epidemic. In Holliston, we have seen neighbors looking out for one another. Families show up even when it is hard. Community partners step forward to build safer spaces, increase prevention efforts, and make sure support is available when someone needs it most. This is what resilience looks like.
In Massachusetts, 1,763 people lost their lives to opioid overdose last year alone. Yet even within this difficult reality, communities like ours continue to come together with strength and empathy. Families, neighbors, and partners across Holliston are working together every day to create safer environments, healthier choices, and stronger supports for those who need them. While we acknowledge the weight of these losses, we also recognize the resilience and compassion that defines Holliston.
HDAAC believes that remembrance is not only an act of honoring the past, it is also a pathway toward healing, hope, and prevention. Our coalition works year-round to support youth, families, and the broader Holliston community through education, resources, awareness campaigns, and partnerships that build protective factors and promote wellness. We collaborate closely with Holliston Youth and Family Services, our schools, local law enforcement, health partners, youth, and many dedicated residents who share a commitment to helping every person feel valued and supported.
HDAAC remains dedicated to this work. We stand with every Holliston family who has lost someone. We honor every life cut short. And we will continue to advocate for programs, conversations, and resources that help people feel connected, encouraged, and empowered to make choices that keep themselves and others safe.
Thank you for taking a moment to remember those we have lost. May this season bring you peace, hope, and compassion. And may we, as a community, continue moving toward a future where fewer lights go out too soon, and where every person has the chance to live a full, healthy life.
Say their names and send them love: Aaron “Bubba” Mahoney, Andrew Cutler, Brad Hamilton, Christine Warren, Glenn McDermott, Jeff Wencus, Jennifer Lee Regan (Jenny), Jeremy Farrell, Jimmy Maloney or James F. Maloney, III, Kimberly, Matthew Bertulli, Max Tobin Anderson, Neythen Yovicsin, Nicholas Rossini, Samuel Scott Green, Sarah Whitlock, and Tristan.
Below are some quotes family members shared when submitting the names, they can also be found on the tree:
“Forever in our hearts.”
“Keep the faith.”
“Though I know I’ll never lose affection for people and things that went before, I know I’ll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more.”
“What thou lovest well remains…”
“The only scars in Heaven are on the hands that hold you now.”
“Our hearts are forever broken by your loss, but full of the joy of your memories.”
“Baby, all I want for Christmas, is you?”
“WE REMEMBER.”
#StopTheStigma
For support or information, contact HDAAC by emailing moreauz@holliston.k12.ma.us or calling 508-429-0620.