Fort Story provides Trees for Troops

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers from the 119th Inland Cargo Transportation Company and the 368th Seaport Operations Company unload a Christmas tree at the Trees for Troops event at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek- Fort Story. Trees for Troops is a nationwide program which donates Christmas trees to service members and their families in the U.S. and overseas. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Laura Hoover)  

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

11.29.2012

Courtesy Story

Navy Public Affairs Support Element East - (Reserve)

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Laura Hoover, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East

NORFOLK – More than 300 Christmas trees were given away by the Trees for Troops organization to junior enlisted service members and their families at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story beginning Nov. 29.

Trees were handed out on a first come, first serve basis to active-duty service members.

Since 2005,Trees for Troops has donated more than 100,000 Christmas Trees to service members and their families in the U.S. and overseas.

Families began arriving at 11:30 a.m. to the Sandpiper Recreation Center at Fort Story to pick out their trees.

“ This is what the holiday spirit is all about,” said Karen Williams, Sandpiper Recreation Center director. “The troops are happy. The volunteers are happy. This is just a wonderful program.”

Soldiers from the 119th Inland Cargo Transportation Company and 368th Seaport Operations Company volunteered with unloading and loading the trees. The volunteers were more than happy to help with the tree giveaway.

“I love being a part of Trees for Troops,” said Pfc. Brianna Peery, with the 119th ICTC. “It is great that this program can give back to troops who truly deserve it.”

With holiday music playing in the background, the children at the event ran around looking to pick out their favorite tree. For many families, the timing couldn’t have been better.

“This event is wonderful,” said Rosa Barrios of Norfolk. “My husband comes home from deployment soon and will be ecstatic to see the tree and my kids will be thrilled when they get home from school today.”

This year Trees for Troops will deliver approximately 18,000 trees, the majority of which will be going to military bases across the U.S. and overseas.

• Date Taken: 11.29.2012
• Date Posted: 11.30.2012 17:59
• Story ID: 98582
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US