By Kate Hill

Staff Writer

Last week, a team of local volunteers gathered at Critz Farms in Cazenovia to help spread the holiday spirit to U.S. military service members and their families through Trees for Troops — a nationwide program that provides free, farm-grown Christmas trees to more than 70 military bases in the United States and oversees.

Launched in 2005, the annual program is presented through a partnership between the Christmas Spirit Foundation (CSF) — the 501(c)(3) charitable branch of the National Christmas Tree Association — and FedEx.

Over the past 14 years, the program has delivered 225,319 trees, donated by more than 800 growers, to military families in the U.S. and to troops stationed overseas in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Spain and Guam.

On Dec. 3, FedEx stopped off at Critz Farms to collect nearly 80 trees donated by Christmas tree growers throughout Central New York, including Critz Farms; Neil Casey’s Farm Market and Greenhouses; Moore Tree Farm; Roberts Tree Farm; Fred Likel; Gene Molyneaux; Frank Ramsey; Applegate Tree Farm; Hunts Tree Farm; Hill of Beans Trees; Page’s Christmas Trees; Spruce Ridge Landscaping and Garden Center; and Springside Farm.

The trees were tagged and loaded onto the truck with help from volunteers from the Cazenovia American Legion Post 88.

“I joined the legion last year when I moved to Cazenovia,” said retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Michael Basla. “Part of the legion’s role is to do community service . . . When I heard about this program . . . I thought ‘man, that’s a good cause,’ and I wanted to participate. It’s a small thing we do for the large sacrifice that they make.”

All of the donated trees will be delivered to Fort Knox Army Base in Kentucky.

“It’s a good cause, and it’s all part of the Christmas spirit,” said American Legion member Chuck Amos, who has participated in the Trees for Troops program for the past five years. “Having been a veteran of Vietnam, I appreciate what it’s like to be away from home at Christmas.”

The Critzes have donated to Trees for Troops for nearly a decade.

In 2014, Critz Farms became a drop-off/collection point for the program and began recruiting other local tree growers to participate.

“We continue to participate to show our appreciation to the men and women who serve our country and to their families,” said Critz Farms co-owner Juanita Critz. “We can only imagine what it is like for families who can’t be together over the holiday due to a deployment, and we hope that by providing fresh Christmas trees, we can bring some joy to the season.”

In 2012, Trees for Troops was honored at the White House as a top 20 national finalist in the Joining Forces Community Challenge — an initiative started by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to recognize organizations that provide exemplary service and support to military families.

In 2017, the program won the Department of Defense Spirit of Hope Award following a nomination by the U.S. Coast Guard. The award is given annually by each branch of the military to groups that epitomize the values of patriotism, loyalty, freedom and dedication.

To learn more about the CSF and Trees for Troops, visit christmasspiritfoundation.com.