NATICK, Mass. – The Natick Soldier Systems Center community gathered Dec. 4 to kick off the holiday season with its inaugural Christmas tree giveaway, followed by the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting.
The day began with Soldiers from the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, along with civilian employees and garrison volunteers, handing out free Christmas trees to military members, retirees, veterans, and their families.
At around 10 a.m., volunteers unloaded 75 trees donated by Operation Service, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting service members past and present. Throughout the day, volunteers assisted families in selecting and trimming trees to ensure they were ready to take home.
This effort was part of the broader "Trees for Soldiers" program, now in its 14th year. The program, which runs from the day after Thanksgiving to Dec. 21, has grown steadily, distributing more than 1,200 trees this year across multiple events. Operation Service partnered with Cauley’s Garden Center in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, to provide the trees at no cost to military families.
“Trees for Soldiers is an awesome event, and USAG Natick is honored to be a part of it,” said Keith Jackson, Deputy to the Garrison Commander, U.S. Army Garrison Natick. “Operation Service is an outstanding organization doing great things for our local service members, retirees, and veterans. This event means a lot to the Natick military community and provides some much-needed holiday cheer.”
For many families, having a live tree during the holidays is a cherished tradition. For those stationed far from loved ones, this simple gesture can lift spirits. Army Community Services Coordinator Yolanda Kennedy emphasized the impact, saying, “These events are always a great way for us to show support and bring joy to the families we serve here at NSSC. It’s great to relieve even a little financial stress for our service members.”
Later in the evening, the NSSC community came together for the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting. Guests enjoyed hot cocoa and lebkuchen (German spiced gingerbread cookies) in the Carney Hall foyer, courtesy of MWR, bringing a festive close to the day.
“Today was great. We had a lot of trees and were able to find homes for them all,” said Antonio Paiva, a member of the U.S. Army Garrison Natick Department of Public Works. “It’s not a bad day at work when you get to bring a little happiness to people at the start of the holiday season.”
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