REMEMBERING OUR TROOPS AT CHRISTMAS TIME

REMEMBERING OUR TROOPS AT CHRISTMAS TIME

In yesterday’s post I taught you how to make Golden Christmas Tree Centerpieces.  I made my centerpieces for an event that raises money  for scholarships for our local students.  They do it by raffling off decorated Christmas trees.  If you missed that post, you can read all about it here.

So, you may be wondering what that has to do with “Remembering our Troops at Christmas Time.”  Well, that same organization also raises money to send care packages to soldiers from our local mountains who are deployed overseas.

I am a member of that “Support the Troops Committee” and each Christmas our committee not only sends care packages to the troops……

……we also donate a “Troop Tree” to the fundraiser.  For the past several years I have been the designated tree decorator.  Three years ago, in keeping with the patriotic spirit of our military, I decorated a red, white & blue Christmas tree.

OK, I admit it was a bit over-the-top for Christmas, but hey, it could be displayed on the 4th of July too, couldn’t it?

Last year I had some decorations leftover so I made a similar patriotic themed tree.

As it turned out, our local Assemblyman won it and displayed it in his office. How perfect was that!?

This year, while I still had fall pumpkins on display in my house, I thought our Troop Tree needed a new look.

So I decided on a “Desert Storm” theme.  I made a trip to Orange County and purchased my supplies at Shinoda Design Center.

I added bows made from camouflage ribbon, glittery stars leftover from my centerpieces, and some artificial grasses.  I figured maybe somebody who lives in the desert might appreciate this year’s tree.

Well, as it turned out, my friend Sandi won the tree.

Her son Leland had just returned from his 4th deployment in Afghanistan and she was going to give it to him.  How perfect is that?

I am tickled, delighted and very happy that my tree will now be living with a war hero.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Do you do something to support the troops?  Our committee would love to hear from you!

PS – Shinoda Design Center has never heard of me.  I’m just a secret admirer.

All opinions expressed in this post are my own.   All photos are the original property of Celia Becker @ www.AfterOrangeCounty.com and may not be reproduced without specific permission.