Nationwide, growers are donating about 3,500 Christmas trees to soldiers
Dec 5, 2005
By Matt King Staff Writer
San Martin - Dozens of South Valley Christmas trees are on their way to U.S. military bases to bring a little holiday cheer to the nation's soldiers.
"We've been trying to muster our own troops," San Martin tree grower Paul Battaglia said. "Hopefully, we can bring a little cheer and a little spirit to those guys."
Wednesday, Battaglia helped ship 130 Christmas trees to soldiers stationed at Camp Pendleton near San Diego and Fort Lewis in Washington.
Thirty-one of the trees came from Battaglia Ranch, another 30 came from Bourdet's Christmas Tree Farm in Hollister and four came from Paradise Christmas Tree farm in Morgan Hill.
And these were not the kind of trees featured in "A Charlie Brown Christmas," with central California growers donating majestic noble firs and Leyland cypress trees.
Nationwide, growers are donating about 3,500 trees through the National Christmas Tree Association's Christmas Spirit Foundation.
Federal Express has been shipping the trees for free, with some traveling as far as Qatar to be distributed to US. troops around the world.
The foundation formed to help growers in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Its chairwoman, Texas grower Beth Walterscheidt, said members wanted to continue their charitable work with soldiers.
"They do so much for us," Walterscheidt said. "They're protecting our freedom and allow us to be in business as growers. We wanted to give something back to them."
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