Christmas Trees Light Holiday for Soldiers
Published in the News and Observer, North Raleigh News Section
December 7, 2007
Click for a PDF of the full article as published
Wake
Forest- To bring the spirit of Christmas to loved ones with members deployed overseas,
Wake
Forest
Baptist
Church on Monday donated 110 trees to soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division and their families living at
Fort
Brag.
Les Burleson, the church’s Minister of Youth and Missions and a Persian Gulf Vet, last year donated leftover trees from the church’s Christmas tree lot.
The idea was so popular this year Burleson set up a program where contributors adopted a specific family for the price of a $55 Christmas tree.
“I think, for the church, it is about connectivity; connecting people with something they are passionate about. There are many that would like to say thanks for all the soldiers do but don’t have an opportunity to do so,” he said.
This is the 13th year that the church has sold trees, the past two years at its lot at
120 Wake Union Road. The proceeds support the church’s youth program and other outreach projects.
“We are hoping it will grow even larger next year and we would love to include businesses and other organizations in sponsoring a tree,” Burleson said.
Sponsors receive a hanging picture with the name of their “adopted” soldiers and their families for their own tree.
Sgt. Christian Telesca, 22, of
Florida, was among those from
Fort
Bragg who came to
Wake
Forest to pick up the trees.
“It means a lot when it comes to the children. I know when I used to wake up when I was little, I would see the Christmas tree and all the presents under the tree- it’s Christmas. It’s a great time.”
Volunteer Dennis Dietrich, 60, of
Granville
County volunteered Monday to help load the trees and also travelled to
Fort
Bragg to help distribute them. His two sons served in the armed forces and were both deployed at Christmases.
“We know what these families are feeling. They’ve given me so much, I can certainly give back to them. We are going down there to help distribute trees, just to see a smile of their faces,” he said.
Pfc. Billy Johnson, 29, of
Fort
Bragg said, “It’s a real big thing because they [children] can still celebrate the holidays, even with the absences of their fathers,
“It’s a significant event in a child’s life. We just want to say thank you. While their spouses are deployed serving our country, those back at home can still celebrate the joy of Christmas.”
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