Trees for Troops returns to Fort Leonard Wood

By Brian Hill, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs OfficeNovember 17, 2022

Fort Leonard Wood service members will be able to pick out a free, live Christmas tree again this year as the Trees for Troops program returns to the Automotive Skills Center Dec. 2 and 3.
Fort Leonard Wood service members will be able to pick out a free, live Christmas tree again this year as the Trees for Troops program returns to the Automotive Skills Center Dec. 2 and 3. (Photo Credit: file photo) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Hundreds of live Christmas trees will be free for the Fort Leonard Wood community again this year as the Trees for Troops program returns to the Automotive Skills Center Dec. 2 and 3.

Active-duty, Reserve and National Guard service members and their spouses may reserve a pick-up time between noon and 5 p.m. Dec. 2 at Bldg. 1383, by calling the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Installation Wide Events Office from now until Dec. 1 at 573.596.6913, or by visiting the FMWR website.

A military I.D. is required at time of pickup.

Anyone with access to the installation is welcome to pick-up a free tree on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last between the same times the next day, Dec. 3.

There is a limit of one tree per family.

According to Megan O’Donoghue, FMWR director, Fort Leonard Wood is one of more than 80 military installations receiving trees this holiday season as part of the Trees for Troops program.

“These trees are donated by people across the United States and individual tree farms to show their appreciation and support for our military families,” O’Donoghue said. “Knowing that people from across the nation are coming together to support our military is incredibly heartwarming.”

The Trees for Troops program has provided more than 250,000 live Christmas trees to service members and their families since the program’s launch in 2005, and O’Donoghue said nothing is better than witnessing the impact this program has on our community, “which is evident in the smiles on the faces of those service members and families picking out a tree.”

“No matter the age — young or young at heart — these trees bring joy, happiness and the spirit of the holidays to our service members and make a difference in the lives of our military community,” she said.

Learn more about the program by visiting the Trees for Troops website.