By 9:30 a.m. Dec. 7, a line had already wrapped around Fort Riley’s Outdoor Recreation, where Soldiers and their Families waited to receive a free Christmas tree. By 10:30 a.m., 180 Families had received their trees, courtesy of the Trees for Troops program.
With a staff of about 10 to 15 employees assisting with the event, Fort Riley’s Outdoor Recreation helped hand out about 240 trees to Fort Riley Families this year through the program.
Army spouse Heather Tanner and her daughter, Grace, 5, were one of the Families that ventured out to Outdoor Recreation to pick up a tree. Heather’s husband, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Terry Tanner, 541st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, is currently attending school at Fort Lee, Va. The couple also has another daughter, Avery, 2.
“I think this is wonderful,” Heather Tanner said. “This is an awesome thing, and it makes life a lot easier for us moms and Families that have our other half out of town.”
Fort Riley newcomer Andre Acosta was another Army spouse picking out a tree for himself and his wife, Spc. Catherine Escobar. Although the couple has been together for five years, this will be their first Christmas tree together. The couple got married in November 2012.
While waiting in line for a tree, Families had the opportunity to watch a holiday movie with their children inside the building; write a thank you card to sponsors of Trees for Troops; and children could create art on the coloring and crafts stations in the facility’s back room. Children also were given little give-away bags and giant puzzles, and participants could enter to win a holiday cookie tin.
Angelia Lentz, Outdoor Recreation director, said she was pleased with the event’s response.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to get into the holiday spirit and to get to be around a bunch of other folks that are gearing up for the holidays,” Lentz said.
“I think it’s really just a great opportunity to, of course get a free tree, but also, it’s got a lot of holiday atmosphere around it.”
About Trees
for Troops
Since 2005, more than 103,000 free, farm-grown Christmas trees have been provided to troops and military Families in the U.S. and overseas through the Trees for Troops program.
Trees for Troops is a collaborated effort between the Christmas Spirit Foundation, FedEx and Christmas tree farmers. Thousands of trees are donated by American farm Families and the public, and FedEx delivers the trees to more than 60 military bases and posts in the U.S. and overseas. FedEx has logged more than 352,000 U.S. miles for the program.
For more information, visit www.TreesForTroops.org or email info@TreesForTroops.org.
By Dena O’Dell
1st Inf. Div. Post
Dena O’Dell | POST
Andre Acosta, military spouse, right, gets the end of his Christmas tree trimmed off by Corby Wolf, Outdoor Rec, left, with help from Rob Myers, Outdoor Rec, center, Dec. 7 at the Trees for Troops event at Outdoor Recreation.
Dena O’Dell | POST
Army spouse Heather Tanner, left, and her daughter, Grace, 5, right, pick out the perfect Christmas tree Dec. 7 at Outdoor Rec.
Dena O’Dell | POST
Alexandria Schmitz, 6, left, and her brother, Aiden Yoakum, 5, right, color while waiting to get their free Christmas tree during the Trees for Troops event Dec. 7 at Outdoor Rec. They are the children of Staff Sgt. John Daniels, 1st Bn., 16th Inf. Regt., and his wife, Dolores.
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