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thedrifter
11-23-07, 07:00 AM
Christmas trees go to military families
By MARY LODEN, For The Globe Gazette

FOREST CITY — For the third consecutive year, Christmas tree growers and FedEx will take part in the Trees For Troops program.

This year, Trees for Troops will provide approximately 10,000 Christmas trees to military members and their families across the U.S. and overseas, reaching those serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard.

The Iowa Christmas Tree Growers Association will donate 100 trees to the troops.

“Each North Iowa grower will donate five trees,” said Mark Fisher of Fisher’s Tree Farm in Forest City.

Fisher said more trees will be cut and taken to Des Moines on Nov. 27 to join with trees from across the state.

From there they will be bundled into waiting FedEx trucks and sent on their way to making Christmas a little merrier for soldiers and their families.

Six North Iowa Christmas tree growers, members of the Iowa Christmas Tree Growers Association, are taking part.

“It is a goodwill gesture. We appreciate what these military people are doing for us,” Fisher said.

He said many of the trees will have notes attached telling where they came from and sending a thank-you.

“This is a way for FedEx to give back to the community,” said Bob Foell, station manager for FedEx in Clear Lake. Several employees have served or are serving in some branch of the military.

North Iowa Christmas tree growers participating in the program are Aldridge Tree Farm in Belmond, Carlson Tree Farm in Hampton, Fisher Tree Farm in Forest City, Hinders Trees of Woden, Kragel Christmas Trees of Forest City and Pine Acres in New Hampton.

Mary Loden is a reporter for the Forest City Summit and the Britt News-Tribune that are, along with the Globe Gazette, Lee Enterprise newspapers.

Ellie