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December 2nd, 2009
01:17 PM ET
Trees For Troops
It's a story that combines two things we're passionate about in the CNN NewsRoom-celebrating the spirit of the season and helping our troops.
Today we're highlighting Trees for Troops, a national effort to make sure military families who want one get a Christmas tree.
The charity's goal is to deliver 15,000 trees this year to military families in the United States and serving overseas.
If you want to find out more or help the cause you can click here to link to the charity's website.
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After the health care plan and all the paper used you might have to go for artificial trees Its time to pony up Wall Mart your country's asking for trees.
As the CEO of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, I want to thank you for highlighting our Trees for Troops program!
I'm on my way to California where Thursday we will be delivering farm-grown Christmas Trees to more than 1,000 Marine families at Camp Pendleton. This will be my fifth year at Camp Pendleton. The gratitude these Marine families express to me for their trees - esppecially those who have someone deployed - still makes me teary eyed.
Thanks to the Christmas tree farmers and retailers and to FedEx for being the cornerstone of the Trees for Troops program. We couldn't do it without them.
And thanks to those consumers who support us with donations. We count on 3,000 trees donated by the public to meet our commitments to the famillies at the 53 bases in the program.
You can help by buying a tree this weekend at one of the 40 locations in the Trees for Troops Weekend events; by sending a donation, buying an ornament or more ... you can see how to do this at our Web site or by viewing this power point.
Thanks to CNN for giving us this platform!
Steve Drake
There are far to few trees in the world today. Bring the troops home and save the tree's. You would do the world a big and lasting blessing.
Cutting down a tree and shipping it half-way around the world for a temporary display, is a terrible waste of dwindling tax payer dollars.
Especially when dozens of States are literally teetering on the very brink of Bankruptcy and are being forced to cut back on many essential services.
Now its your turn Wall Mart pony up get rid of some of those returns .
@ Steve Drake, CEO of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation
I would like to propose a unique perspective. Instead of killing all these trees just for house decorations that lasts at best 2-3 weeks and can be the cause of house fires, why not either transport "live" trees in which can be re-planted or the "nasty word" Fake trees!
The White House just received a tree that was 125 years old. Older than any Human alive anywhere in the world! How profound is that! I would like this country, just once, start protecting and appreciating our environment.
I would like to see "The Amrita Devi Bishnol Wildlife Protection Award” offered in this country as it is in India!
Thats Ok Dodie when the presidents done with the tree hes going to pulp it up into more paper for health care bill's
Wow, everyone...thanks for bringing down a good story. The Trees for Troops program does not run off of tax dollars, nor is it related to the government in any way. The trees are donated by tree farms across the country and generous individuals who would like to give something to honor our soliders. Instead of trying to make everything negative, why don't we all take a few minutes to thank those who serve our country and protect our freedoms everyday. I am grateful for our brave soldiers and a program like Trees for Troops that gives our soldiers a bit of cheer during the holiday season. They deserve it!
Perhaps I just don't get it so help me out here...
Since when are military members and their families in need of charity? Before the hate rains down, I'll just let you know that I served in the Navy with pride for 6 years. I can guarantee that I was never poor and in need for somebody to hook me up with a free tree. In fact I was making a whole heck of a lot more money than people in other noble professions like teachers, hair stylists or grocery baggers for that matter. Where's the free trees for them?
I think it's great to support the troops, but if they want a tree, why can't they just go buy one like everyone else? Seriously, I admire the spirit of the cause...can somebody possibly enlighten the skeptic? Thanks and Merry Christmas.