Here is a feature article from the Winter, 2006 Issue

Georgia Christmas tree growers
donate trees for troops

By Jennifer Whittaker

Rain, not snow, was falling when a FedEx tractor-trailer arrived at Ridgeway Christmas Tree Farm in Jackson, Ga., on Dec. 8, to pick up the almost 300 trees donated by Georgia growers as part of the national Trees for Troops program.

ROTC students from Jackson High School load Christmas trees donated to the national Trees for Troops program by Georgia growers. About 300 trees were delivered to Fort Benning for distribution to soldiers and military families.
But the wet weather didn’t dampen the Chrismas spirit that lit up the faces of the Christmas tree growers and local ROTC students as they loaded the trees. The smell of fresh Leyland Cypress, fraser firs, Virginia pines and spruce trees permeated the air reminding everyone of the importance of their mission.

“I had some military time years ago and I know something like this will mean something to the troops in the field,” said Coy Dillahunty, executive director of the Georgia Christmas Tree Growers Association. “I asked each grower in our association to give at least six trees and some gave as many as twelve.”

Georgia Christmas tree growers from 45 farms across the state donated the trees to be distributed to military families and soldiers at Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga. Growers delivered or sent their trees to Ridgeway Farm in Butts County, which served as the designated collection point for its central location.

“It makes you feel good to know you’re helping out friends and families of the troops serving overseas,” David Ridgeway said. Both David and his brother, Perry, formerly served with Georgia’s 48th Brigade.

“These guys are over there sacrificing their lives at Christmas time and we don’t have a clue what they’re going through,” Newton County Christmas tree grower Charles Berry said when asked why he participated in the program.

Nationwide, the Trees for Troops program, coordinated by FedEx and the National Christmas Tree Association, collected and delivered more than 3,500 Christmas trees to military bases across the U.S. between Nov. 28 and Dec. 9. About 200 trees donated by the Ohio Christmas Tree Association’s Operation Evergreen were flown to Qatar courtesy of FedEx.

“It’s a way of saying thank you to the men and women of the armed services for their contributions to our country,” said Jerry Avossa, a FedEx road driver. “Anything that will boost the morale of the families and troops overseas is a good thing, especially for the families of troops deployed overseas.”

Distribution of the trees was determined by the Army’s Family Distribution Office, Col. Larry McLendon, stateside commanding officer of the 48th Brigade, said.

“I think it’s absolutely great these trees will be going to soldiers’ families. It’s a wonderful patriotic gesture to support our soldiers’ families,” McLendon said.