FORT GORDON, Ga. (Dec. 11, 2015) - Christmas trees were handed to military families during the Trees for Troops program Dec. 3 at Barton Field.
Service members from grades E-1 to E-6 were able to receive a free Christmas tree from the program that now encompasses 65 military installations.
Since 2005, farm- grown Christmas trees have been provided to the military and their families in the U.S. and abroad. The program was made possible by the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation working with FedEx, who delivers the trees.
Students with the Basic Officer Leader Course, Sergeant Audie Murphy Club members, and the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers stood ready with more than 300 Christmas trees in hand for the hundreds of military families waiting in line along Barton Field.
"I hope I get more trees next year. We always run out," said Renee Martinez, Deployment Readiness Program manager with the Army Community Service.
"Families have been waiting in line since 1 O'clock. They've waited patiently up to 4 (p.m.). They kept asking when we are going to start handing out the trees."
With the growth of Fort Gordon, there will be more of a demand for needing families, and Martinez hopes to receive more Christmas trees next year. Gillem Enclave near Atlanta, which Fort Gordon facilitates, received 25 tree for the service members there.
"I think it's a really good program," said Sgt. Jeremy Wade, an analyst with the 513th Military Intelligence Brigade.
"A lot of the times during the holidays, a lot of Soldiers get down and it's also a big financial strain for them especially for junior Soldiers who have families. This gives them an opportunity to keep up morale and enjoy the holidays a little more," said Wade.
To learn more about the Trees for Troops program, visit www.treesfortroops.org.
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