American troops stationed throughout the world will celebrate the holidays with an Ohio-grown tree thanks to Operation Evergreen, an annual event held today at the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Reynoldsburg campus and organized by the Ohio Christmas Tree Association (OCTA).
“The department is proud to offer its plant inspection services to help maintain holiday traditions for our service men and women,” said Ohio Agriculture Director Robert Boggs. “I am hopeful that the sight and smell of a freshly-cut Ohio Christmas tree will bring joy to those serving our country overseas.”
Trees are donated by various Ohio Christmas tree growers and inspected by department nursery inspectors before being sent to soldiers serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar and Kuwait. Two hundred trees received a phytosanitary certificate for international shipment and will be delivered to troops by FedEx. In addition to the trees, decorations were donated by local schools, churches and veterans’ groups, ensuring the military units receiving the trees will have all that is needed to celebrate the holidays.
“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 OCTA.
Operation Evergreen helps to kick off the Trees for Troops program that will collect approximately 16,000 trees to be delivered to the families of military personnel. FedEx will provide delivery to 55 military bases.
Operation Evergreen is sponsored by the OCTA with the help of Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and FedEx Corporation. OCTA has delivered Christmas trees to troops stationed overseas since 1995.
