FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Dec. 8, 2016) -- The chill in the air did not diminish the heartwarming scene as a large group of Soldiers from 548th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade gathered in front of Hays Hall on Dec. 1 to unload a van packed full of holiday cheer.
The volunteers, joined by Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Bannister, 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum commander; Col. Shawn C. Schuldt, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade commander; and Command Sgt. Maj. Ann M. Sydnor, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade senior enlisted adviser, donned camouflage Santa hats as they prepared to move some of the more than 700 trees that were donated to Fort Drum Families this year.
Bannister thanked Dick and Mary Ellen Darling, owners of Darling's Tree Farm in Clifton Springs and New York state co-chairmen of the Christmas Spirit Foundation, for their continued support of the foundation's annual "Trees for Troops" program -- an effort the couple has been involved with since 2005. The mission of the program is to provide free, farm-grown Christmas trees to members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
This year, Dick Darling has broadened his efforts, taking on the role of national chairman.
"We've got about 800 tree farmers across the country who participate in the program," Darling said. "This year, we will be delivering about 17,000 trees across the country."
Darling said that there are more than 140 participating tree farms in New York state alone, providing approximately 1,700 trees this year.
Bannister also thanked representatives from FedEx for their assistance in the shipping and distribution of the trees. The company has supported the program since its inception by transporting the trees, free of charge, to more than 65 military installations across the country.
He said that the upcoming holiday season will be especially joyful, as nearly all of Fort Drum's Soldiers are home -- a rare occurrence in a frequently deployed division.
"All the combat brigades were gone last year at this time," Bannister said. "Division headquarters was gone. So we are all looking forward to spending Christmas at home. We appreciate what you all do for us each year."
As the Darlings looked on, the group formed an assembly line to load trees on to the first of many military vehicles that would transport them to locations across the installation, where they would be donated to Soldiers and Family Members.
Dick Darling said that the program provides a means for community members across the U.S. to express their gratitude for the sacrifices of our nation's military members and their Families. The couple first got involved in "Trees for Troops" after a Soldier from their local community was killed.
They decided they wanted to do something to honor his memory and to help ensure other military service members enjoy the holidays.
"It can be a tough time of year for them, especially if they are deployed or away from their Families during the holidays," Dick Darling said. "This is just a small way that we can show them we appreciate them and make the holidays better for them."
Sgt. William Buttner, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade noncommissioned officer in charge, who has volunteered to support the program for the past two years, said that he loves being a part of making the holidays special for his battle buddies and their Families.
"The great thing about Christmas is that it really brings out the child in all of us," he said. "I think it makes all of the volunteers feel good to think of how happy these trees will make the Families who receive them -- especially the children."
Schuldt said that while a tree may seem like a simple gesture, it is one that is extremely meaningful to Soldiers and their Families -- especially those who may be far from their extended Families.
"Getting a tree from the community makes us realize how welcome we are in the North Country and makes it feel more like home, no matter how far we are from where we grew up," he said. "An event like this highlights how important our surrounding communities are to our Soldiers, and their generosity to those who serve is an incredible measure."
As he picked up his tree later that day, Pvt. Garret Espina, a Soldier with 33rd Finance Company, said he and his wife had decorated artificial trees together in the past, but they were looking forward to having a real tree this year.
"It will be nice to decorate a real Christmas tree, especially for our daughter," he said. "It's her first Christmas, so it's definitely really special."
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