Iowa Christmas Trees on Their Way to Troops

Tools

By Rachel Begle

Story Created: Nov 28, 2012 at 7:54 AM CDT

Story Updated: Nov 28, 2012 at 11:02 AM CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — More than 80 Christmas trees are headed from Iowa to U.S. servicemen and women and their families overseas and at stateside bases.

The Des Moines Register reports that more than 20 Iowa Christmas tree farms donated trees to the Trees for Troops project, which is a program of the Christmas Spirit Foundation. The foundation says that since the program's beginning in 2005, more than 103,000 free trees have been delivered by FedEx to more than 60 military bases in the U.S. and overseas.

Army veteran Gary Harman says he remembers a lonely Christmas he spent in what was West Germany in 1968. That's why he cut down two trees at his Indianola farm on Tuesday, hauled them to the Iowa State Fairgrounds and added them to the outbound pile.

Next Article Made in Eastern Iowa: Premier Guitar and Banno

Conversation Guidelines

Be Kind

Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.

Share Knowledge

Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.

Stay focused

Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.

Report Trouble

Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.

read the full guidelines here »

Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Crime, sexual abuse, property fires, automobile accidents, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.