It started with a mountain of Christmas trees and ended with an almost full FedEx trailer—770 trees loaded and on their way.

To make their Christmas more festive, these trees are now headed to service members and their families at NAS Pensacola in Florida, Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, and Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

Thanks to everyone who helped load the trees. Special recognition goes to the fire department partners: Milan FD, Pine Plains FD, Red Hook FD, Millbrook FD, Castle Point FD, and Glenham FD, who assisted with this mutual-aid event.

Our hometown Gold Star Mother Donna Yurista, along with Assistant County Executive Gregg Pulver, loaded the last tree in honor of her son, USMC Captain Trevor J. Yurista who died in 2008 serving during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Again, thanks to Williams Lumber for their continued support of this great project and members of the Pleasant Valley Fire District that raised the necessary funds throughout the year to make this project happen.

Mission completed!