NY National Guard volunteers join veterans for Trees for Troops loading

Media Advisory

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (11/25/2022) — More than 15 volunteers from the New York Army and Air National Guard join with Capital District area veterans at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, N.Y. on November 28, 2022 to help load about 125 Christmas trees being donated and sent to military bases around the country to support troops and military families this holiday season.

This marks the 18th year of military members volunteering their time to assist in the loading of trees destined for fellow service members and their families around the country and around the world.

WHO: Soldiers and Airmen from the New York National Guard volunteer their time from work to assist the loadout of holiday trees at Ellms Tree Farm for Trees for Troops.

WHAT: Loading of about 125 Christmas Trees on Fed Ex trucks for the "Trees for Troops" Program

WHEN: 9 a.m. Monday, November 28.

WHERE: Ellms Family Tree Farm, 468 Charlton Road, Ballston Spa, N.Y., 12020

Coverage Opportunity:

Video and images of the volunteers loading trees into the FedEx truck. There will be opportunities to speak with Sally, Chip and Garth Ellms, local veterans and National Guard volunteers.

Additional Information:

This year marks the 18th season that Trees for Troops will be loaded at Ellms Tree Farm.

Over the past 17 years, the program has delivered a total of 277,001 real trees. More than 14,700 trees were donated in 2021.

In 2022, the program is estimating 15,300 total trees picked up from 54 locations and given to 84 total bases.

Supporting elements this year are expected to include the Association of the United States Army and the Jewish War Veterans.

The Trees for Troops program was launched in 2005, and with the help of FedEx Corp., delivered more than 4,300 Christmas Trees to five U.S. military bases in its initial year, as well as an overseas shipment to the Middle East that year. More information is also available at www.TreesforTroops.org.

Fresh cut Christmas trees are gathered at farm and retail lots before being picked up by Trees for Troops partners, FedEx Freight, and routed through distribution centers for delivery to bases.

Once trees arrive at a base and are unloaded, each base determines how/when to distribute the trees to their personnel.

Volunteers from the National Guard have supported the loading of trees to mark their individual support of the program for fellow Soldiers and Airmen serving overseas.

Members of the Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing in Scotia deploy over the holidays every year in support of Operation Deep Freeze, the National Science Foundation support to research in Antarctica. Other members of the New York Army National Guard are deployed to Kuwait in support of operations in the Middle East, including Company A of the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment, based in Latham.

For more information about the program, contact Sally Ellms at 518-339-6333 or sallydellms@gmail.com.

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