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Last updated on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Hundreds of Indiana evergreens are headed overseas to help U.S. troops celebrate the holidays.
Dozens of volunteers gathered Tuesday at Dull Farm in Boone County, one of 800 farms across the country donating to the Trees for Troops effort.
"Christmas tree growers from across the nation donate trees and FedEx donates the shipping to get these trees to the troops," said tree farm owner Tom Dull.
Volunteer Kevin Connelly has been on the giving and the receiving end of tree donations.
An Army veteran, he said he remembers being stationed in Germany years ago and the heartwarming feeling of knowing he was not forgotten.
"When you are stationed overseas, you are away from your family and friends and you are having to pull duty, and sometimes it gets lonely," Connelly said. "This is just a little symbolic means of making you feel like you are back at home."
Volunteers said they know the troops appreciate the effort.
"We actually get letters and cards and emails every year following these distributions, and it's extremely heartwarming for all of our employees," said Paula Bosler, with FedEx.
The trees packed up Tuesday will be sent to either Spain or Bahrain. In all, the Trees for Troops program will deliver more than 17,000 trees this year.
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