Holiday News - PA Agriculture Officials, Adjutant General Distribute Trees for Troops

Pennsylvania National Guardtroops about to deploy to Iraq will be able to celebrate Christmas around a Christmas tree with family members this year after today's "Trees for Troops" donations were made at thePennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center.

 

Executive Deputy Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Veterans and Military Affairs Adjutant General Major General Jessica Wright were on hand this afternoon as live Christmas trees and ornaments were donated to families of troops in the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Striker Brigade Combat Team.

 

The troops have been training since October and will return home December 23 before being deployed to Iraq in January.

 

"I am grateful for our military men and women and their families," said Redding. "Thanks to the generosity of Pennsylvania's Christmas tree growers and House of Representatives employees, these families, who have sacrificed so much for our nation's continued freedom, may find increased comfort and joy this holiday season."

 

The Christmas trees were donated by Strathmeyer Forests, York County, and the ornaments were collected by employees of the House of Representatives. Pennsylvania mushroom farmers donated gift cards that will be used by the families to purchase gifts.

 

"Pennsylvania Christmas tree growers have made this holiday season just a little brighter for our military families and I thank them very much for this outpouring of support," said Wright.

Any trees and ornaments remaining after today's donations will be distributed by the Pennsylvania National Guard to families at Philadelphia armories.

 

Pennsylvania leads the nation in Christmas tree farms with more than 2,000 Christmas tree farms on 45,000 acres that contribute $17.3 million to the state's economy annually. Each year, 1.7 million cut Christmas trees are harvested.