Operation Evergreen brings happier holidays to the troops Ohio Christmas Tree Association (OCTA) is bringing a little bit of the Christmas spirit to the troops in Bosnia and Kosovo. More than 103 Christmas trees were sent to American peacekeeping units for the holidays. Each year since 1995, OCTA has been collecting white pines and firs from its members. Schools contacted by the organization donated homemade ornaments for the trees. OCTA members also donated garland; tree toppers and stands; Christmas CDs, tapes and greeting cards; letters and ornaments. "This project seems to grow by leaps and bounds each year," said Dale Arnold, OCTA executive director. "Our members are very generous and the volunteers who collect and pack the trees really make it possible for OCTA to do this." OCTA members donating fresh-cut trees send them to collection spots throughout the state, and then the trees are transported to the Ohio Department of Agriculture in Reynoldsburg for inspection for overseas shipment. The trees are baled and packed in boxes and shipped by truck to Mechanicsburg, Pa., to the Defense Distribution Depot. From there they are air freighted to Germany and then distributed to units overseas. Buyers’ guides People looking to buy Christmas trees this season should check out OCTA’s 2003 editions of the Consumer and Wholesale Buyers Guides. Both publications are available at the OCTA Web site, www.ohiochristmastree.com. For more information or to receive a copy of the guides, contact Arnold at 614-246-8249 or darnold@ofbf.org | |