'Trees for Troops' brings holiday cheer to Fort Stewart, HAAF

Photo By Sgt. Emily Knitter | Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Air Field Garrison commander Col. Kevin Gregory helps carry a tree for one of the first families to receive a Christmas tree as part of the "Trees for Troops" program, Dec. 8. Families waited in line for almost three hours to ensure they received a tree.  

FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, UNITED STATES

12.08.2012

Story by Cpl. Emily Knitter 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORT STEWART, Ga.— They stood almost three hours in the chilly, foggy morning air for the gates to be opened. The line stretched out for almost half a mile, most had coffee in hand, some even brought lawn chairs- and it wasn't even Black Friday. They were waiting to get a Christmas tree.

For seven years, a program called "Trees for Troops" has been providing military members and their families free, farm-grown Christmas trees each holiday season and this year was no different.

The first person in line outside Newman Fitness Center on Dec. 8 was Sgt. 1st Class Deon Spence, a maintenance motor sergeant with the 92nd Chemical Company.

"The thrill of being the first to pick a tree is an awesome feeling," said Sgt. 1st Class Spence. "It is a good opportunity, it saves you some funds that you can now use for other things, like the kid's presents."

There to officially present the first tree of the morning was Ft. Stewart and Hunter Army Air Field Garrison commander Col. Kevin Gregory and Command Sgt. Maj. Louis C. Felicioni.

"The 'Trees for Troops' organization has really made a difference in our soldiers' lives," said Col. Gregory. "[This large of a turnout] really shows the families getting into the Christmas spirit, giving a bit of their time and receiving a little something as well, for the sacrifices they have made over the years for our country."

Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Air Field are two of 62 military bases that received trees this year, and each received more than 500 trees. To date, more than 103,000 trees have been provided to military service men and women and their families.

"I had never seen the 'Trees for Troops' program before," said Staff Sgt. Robert Freeman, the Ear, Nose and Throat noncommissioned officer in charge with the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity for Fort Stewart. "In Germany, we paid roughly $80 for a tree, so getting one for free is wonderful!"

Helping carry the trees to their vehicles were volunteers from the Fort Stewart "Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers" program.

"I am a part of the BOSS program, so I volunteered to help out today," said Spc. Miles Mogilnicky, an intelligence analyst with the 385th Military Police Battalion. "There is a lot to do during the holidays so if I can help someone by carrying a tree, I am glad to do it."

Helping soldiers and their families is the core goal the "Trees for Troops" program was founded on, and as one-by-one the trees vanished from the lot, there was no question the program, and the thousands of American citizens who donated to make this a reality, did just that.

• Date Taken: 12.08.2012
• Date Posted: 12.10.2012 21:32
• Story ID: 99053
• Location: FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US