{"id":326234,"date":"2024-12-02T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-03T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=326234"},"modified":"2024-12-05T16:03:28","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T16:03:28","slug":"new-york-guard-soldiers-volunteer-to-assist-in-trees-for-troops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=326234","title":{"rendered":"New York Guard Soldiers volunteer to assist in Trees for Troops"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>

\n 1 \/ 3<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n New York Army National Guard volunteers join with the community to help load Christmas trees on board a Fedex truck during the annual Trees for Troops loadout at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, New York on Dec. 2, 2024. Tree farmers from New York\u2019s capital and Saratoga regions, donated 125 trees to be sent to military bases for the holidays. New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and veterans teamed up to help load the trees on board a truck.
\n (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Richard Goldenberg)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"New
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 2 \/ 3<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n New York Army National Guard Spc. Matt Clark lifts a donated Christmas Tree from retired Command Sgt. Maj. Bob Van Pelt during the annual Trees for Troops loadout at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, New York on Dec. 2, 2024. Tree farmers from New York\u2019s capital and Saratoga regions, donated 125 trees to be sent to military bases for the holidays. New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and veterans volunteered to help load the trees on board the Fedex delivery truck.
\n (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Jean Kratzer)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"New
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 3 \/ 3<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n New York Army National Guard recruiters Master Sgt. Darrick Zwack, left, and Sgt. Jordan Simpson volunteer to help load Christmas trees on board a Fedex truck during the annual Trees for Troops loadout at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, New York on Dec. 2, 2024. Tree farmers from New York\u2019s capital and Saratoga regions, donated 125 trees to be sent to military bases for the holidays. New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and veterans teamed up to help load the trees on board a truck. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Jean Marie Kratzer.)
\n (Photo Credit: Lt. Col. Jean Kratzer)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. \u2014 Seven New York Army National Guard Soldiers joined local veterans load up 125 Christmas trees being donated to military bases around the country at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, N.Y., on Monday, December 2, 2024.<\/p>\n

This was the 20th year tree farmers in the Albany-Saratoga area have been part of the Trees for Troops program. The donated trees are destined for service members and their families around the country.<\/p>\n

The Soldiers stopped at the farm on their way to work at the nearby recruiting office in Saratoga Springs, New York, and the 42nd Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade Headquarters in Latham.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always great to spend time with people of the community for a great cause,\u201d said Master Sgt. Darrick Zwack, section chief for the recruiting office. \u201cI take away (from the event) the care and support the community has for the troops.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"New
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 1 \/ 2<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n New York Army National Guard volunteers join with the community to help load Christmas trees on board a Fedex truck during the annual Trees for Troops loadout at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, New York on Dec. 2, 2024. Tree farmers from New York\u2019s capital and Saratoga regions, donated 125 trees to be sent to military bases for the holidays. New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and veterans teamed up to help load the trees on board a truck.
\n (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Richard Goldenberg)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"New
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 2 \/ 2<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Retired New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major Robert Van Pelt loads a Christmas trees on board a Fedex truck during the annual Trees for Troops loadout at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, New York on Dec. 2, 2024. Tree farmers from New York\u2019s capital and Saratoga regions, donated 125 trees to be sent to military bases for the holidays. New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and veterans teamed up to help load the trees on board a truck.
\n (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Jean Kratzer)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Trees for Troops estimates 15,300 trees will be distributed to 93 military bases throughout the U.S. in 2024. In New York, trees will be delivered to military families at Fort Hamilton, West Point, Fort Drum and Hancock Field Air National Guard Base.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll send trees out of here to our men and women around the world,\u201d said Garth Ellms, the third-generation owner of the farm.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve actually seen trees go to Afghanistan. It\u2019s really wild to see a green tree in the desert, and it\u2019s a great feeling for us,\u201d he said about past shipments of live trees to military installations,\u201d Ellms said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was in Iraq for Christmas in 2004,\u201d Zwack said. \u201cIt was great to just have that feeling of support and what to look forward to when I returned stateside. It gives that little feeling home and support that goes a long way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since 2005, Trees for Troops has provided 309,644 Christmas Trees to military families and troops in the United States and overseas.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been overseas over the holidays,\u201d said first time volunteer Sgt. Kayla Kilventon, assigned to the aviation brigade in Latham.<\/p>\n

\u201cI missed not having a Christmas with my family, but when you are away for the holidays, the base, MWR and people back home try and make the holidays special, even if you can\u2019t be home,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"New
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 1 \/ 2<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n New York Army National Guard Master Sgt. Derrick Zwack lifts a donated Christmas Tree from a volunteer during the annual Trees for Troops loadout at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, New York on Dec. 2, 2024. Tree farmers from New York\u2019s capital and Saratoga regions, donated 125 trees to be sent to military bases for the holidays. New York National Guard Soldiers and local veterans volunteered to help load the trees on board the Fedex delivery truck.
\n (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Richard Goldenberg)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"New
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 2 \/ 2<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n New York Army National Guard volunteers join with the community to help load Christmas trees on board a Fedex truck during the annual Trees for Troops loadout at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, New York on Dec. 2, 2024. Tree farmers from New York\u2019s capital and Saratoga regions, donated 125 trees to be sent to military bases for the holidays. New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and veterans teamed up to help load the trees on board a truck.
\n (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Richard Goldenberg)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Trees for Troops 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great organization that is trying to bring smiles to troops\u2019 faces when they can\u2019t be home for the holidays like they want to be,\u201d Kilventon said. \u201cKnowing that I could be a part of that is an amazing feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fresh cut Christmas trees are gathered at farm and retail lots before being picked up by FedEx and routed through distribution centers for delivery to bases.<\/p>\n

Military volunteers turn out each year for both the loading and offloading of trees as they are distributed to service members and their families.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a great event that really brings everyone together for a fantastic cause,\u201d Zwack said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 \/ 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption \u2013 New York Army National Guard volunteers join with the community to help load Christmas trees on board a Fedex truck during the annual Trees for Troops loadout at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, New York on Dec. 2, 2024. Tree farmers from New York\u2019s capital […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":325246,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-326234","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326234","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=326234"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326234\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":326237,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326234\/revisions\/326237"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/325246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=326234"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=326234"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=326234"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}