CORNWALL – The Christmas SPIRIT foundation coordinated with FedEx on Tuesday to gather trees from Farmside Acres in Cornwall and prepare to deliver them to military families throughout the country.
The event was led by Leigh Nannini, who also directed a group of first graders, fourth graders, Marines, and other volunteers to gather the trees onto the FedEx freight trucks.
About 300 trees were loaded in each trailer, for a total of 1,100 trees loaded throughout the event. 
“This year, a majority of the trees are going to Fort Bragg, which is the largest military base in the United States,” Nannini said. “We’re actually the largest donor of Christmas trees in all of New York State.”
Assemblyman Colin Schmitt was also in attendance. “As a member of the Army National Guard, I’d like to give back and really show our appreciation to the active-duty servicemen and women who these trees are going to,” Schmitt said. “We have students, retirees, and people from all walks of life that come together here on an annual basis to share a little of the natural beauty of Christmas trees raised right here in the 99th Assembly District.”
Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus, a lieutenant commander with the Naval Reserves, said the effort “brings the community together and serves as a wonderful way to provide some holiday cheer to our brave servicemen and women, and their families.”
The Trees for Troops has worked in conjunction with FedEx for 11 years.
