Christmas trees for troops

NEENAH - A area Christmas Tree vendor is trying to make the season a little brighter for military families.  Schroeder's Forevergreens in Neenah is participating in "Trees for Troops."

For many a key part of the holiday season is picking out the perfect tree.  The Christmas tree is often the center of the celebration.  That idea goes as far back as the symbol's roots in the Druid religion.

"It was bringing life in during the winter solstice," said Sue Schroeder, co-owner of Schroeder's Forevergreens in Neenah .

And this weekend Schroeder's is asking you to bring some life into a military family's home this holiday.
Sue says told FOX 11 this Friday, Saturday and Sunday you can buy a tree from Schroeder's for a military family.  It's part of the national "Trees for Troops" event.

"For $20 you can purchase a tree, we've already picked those trees out," explained Schroeder.

Tthe 'Trees for Troops' are specifically chosen for their size.  They're about six feet tall and they're pretty small around to fit constraints of military housing.

FedEx will ship the Schroeder's trees to service men and women's families at bases in Missouri and the Great Lakes region.

Sue told us she has a feeling people in the Fox Valley will be very generous.

"The worst thing that could happen is we'd have to make a trip to the farm Monday and harvest a few more trees for that FedEx truck," said Sue, smiling.

And she's happy to make it happen.

 "We just really appreciate the military...and this is something small, but it's real important," said Sue.

Schroeder's employee and Iraq War Veteran Chris Klapoetke told us the families who receive the trees will be just as appreciative.  Especially since some have loved ones serving over seas...and some can't afford evergreens of their own.

"Especially, you know, with times being as tough as they are right now, it's really something to brighten their holidays up," said Chris.

"Trees for Troops was started by the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation in 2005.  The Foundation plans to deliver about 18,000 Christmas Trees to military families this year.  Schroeder's goal is to sell 100.