New York Army and Air National Guard help ship Christmas trees overseas

By

The Associated Press

New York Air National Guard Master Sgt. Kyle Defeo, assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing in Scotia, N.Y., helps load donated Christmas trees at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, N.Y., Nov. 26, 2018. Nearly 20 volunteers turned out to help load 130 Christmas Trees bound for military families at Fort Bragg, N.C. (Col. Richard Goldenberg/Army National Guard)

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. — The New York state Army and Air National Guard alongside area military veterans worked with an upstate tree farm to send over a hundred trees to military bases around the country and overseas.

Now in its 14th year, “Trees for Troops” has delivered more than 200,000 trees to service members and their families in every branch of the military at nearly 65 bases in 17 countries. Ellms Family Tree Farm in the village of Ballston Spa helps to provide the trees to be shipped to members of the military who are not able to come home for the holidays.

Col. Richard Goldenberg, of the Army National Guard, says it’s a great way to let active duty service members know they’re still connected to home.