JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
As the fresh smell of pine trees fills the brisk morning air, more than 40 volunteers await the calm rush of active-duty U.S. Service members and dependents as they file in to choose the perfect Christmas tree at Fort Eustis, Virginia, Dec. 4, 2015.
Approximately 400 trees were donated through the Christmas Spirit Foundation, which sponsors Trees for Troops, a program which provides free, farm-grown Christmas trees to active-duty Service members and their families.
Donated by the customers of Mahoney's Garden Center, the trees were delivered by FedEx to the installation, featuring handwritten messages wishing Service members a happy holidays.
As Service members and families picked their tree, volunteer U.S Soldiers from brigades across the base and the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program helped carry and load the Christmas trees into vehicles.
"The event is held as a way to kick off the holiday season," said U.S. Army Col. William Galbraith, the commander of the 733rd Mission Support Group. "The Trees for Troops program is also a great way of showing a true holiday spirit by donating holiday cheer to our Service members and their families through giving."
For Staff Sgt. Denise Thomas, a personnel and logistics non-commissioned officer of plans and analysis with the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Headquarters, Trees for Troops brings a sense of camaraderie.
"This environment is special because I see how everyone is helping each other out," said Thomas. "It doesn't matter which branch of service you are in; we are fostering an atmosphere of teamwork. Everyone is so cheerful because it is the holidays and we all just want to help each other."
Within two hours, all 400 trees were on their way to a new home where they can bring holiday joy to families and friends.
For more information on the Trees for Troops program, visithttp://www.treesfortroops.org/dnn/Home.aspx.