FRAZEYSBURG, Ohio — Many American troops stationed overseas will celebrate the holidays with an Ohio-grown Christmas tree, thanks to Operation Evergreen, an annual event of the Ohio Christmas Tree Association (OCTA).
More than 100 trees were donated by various Ohio Christmas tree growers Nov. 13, and inspected by department nursery inspectors before being sent to soldiers serving at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
The trees received a phytosanitary certificate for international shipment.
“Hopefully the trees can bring a little bit of home to our troops who will be spending the holidays away from their families,” said Amy Galehouse, Operation Evergreen coordinator with the association.
Decorations, too
In addition to the trees, decorations donated by local schools, churches and veterans’ groups ensured the military units receiving the trees will have all that is needed to celebrate the holidays.
Donations were received from various organizations and growers to cover shipping charges. Sizeable donations were made by Hudler Tree Farm in North Carolina, Bolt Construction in Youngstown and Stifel located in Westlake.
Operation Evergreen, sponsored by the Ohio Christmas Tree Association, has delivered more than 5,000 Christmas trees to troops stationed overseas since 1995.
If anyone would like to assist with future Operation Evergreen events, contact the OCTA Office at 740-828-3331.
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A heart-felt “THANK YOU” to OCTA and all the Christmas tree farmers in the pipeline who make this happen!
Our fighting men and women overseas deserve all the support we can get to them.
This Holiday Season–Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannuka, Kwaanza, whatever–when you see a vet in uniform or a vet wearing a ball cap with a military insignia showing they are a vet, approach them and offer them: “Thanks for your service!”
Better still take a few moments to visit vets in your local hospital, VA facility or nursing home.
…it’s the very least we can do.
FREEDOM AIN’T FREE!
As a vet and the wife of a soldier who has been on 3 combat tours and is now in Korea for this Xhristmas I can’t say how proud we are to serve people like this. My husband is particularly proud of you guys because he was born and raised in Ohio. WAY TO GO BUCKEYES!!!
God Bless you Regina and your Warrior-Husband and all your family! We are so blessed to have you wear the uniform and proudly serve our beloved country.
Our heart-felt thanks to you for your service, and yes, “sacrifice” you are making for us.
Yours truly served stateside as a reservist, kind of feeling like the “second string” to all the active warriors. But, as you know, for all the “teeth” our military has, there must be “tails” to support them.
We support you 100%. P.S. Tell your Trooper that Ohio-land is getting another blast of the white stuff tonight. It will be a white Thanksgiving Day here for us. Hope ROK is better!
All the best!