GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Members of the armed forces will soon be receiving a reminder that people are thinking of them during the holiday season.
North Countree Christmas tree growers came down from Wausaukee to Lambeau Field Tuesday to hand off symbols of the season as part of the annual Trees for Troops campaign. It provides veterans with Christmas trees and a reminder that they’re appreciated.
The campaign, which began in 2005, is a joint effort between FedEx and the charitable branch of the National Tree Association, the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation.
“We have a tendency to go about our day taking advantage of everything, … but [it’s] all here because we are protected, and we are protected by our service people,” explained Paul Schroeder, who owned North Countree Christmas Trees before retiring.
“Providing them with a Christmas tree is just a real easy way to say, ‘Thank you for what you do.’”
Some of the trees literally say “thank you,” with notes of appreciation tagged to their trunks.
Green Bay Christmas tree growers are donating 325 trees this year. Those trees, which were loaded into trucks in the Lambeau Field parking lot Tuesday, are destined for military families in Colorado.
Trees for Troops estimates that 15,000 trees will be donated across the country.
