By: JOSEPH KELLARD
A month after sending 75 trees to military units in the war-torn nation, the Dees family donated another 60, including a 20-footer, to the 77th Regional Readiness Command stationed at Camp Anaconda near Balad on Dec. 16. Various metropolitan area residents and business people, who contributed items as various as greeting cards to hundreds of pounds of food, encircled Maj. Gen. Richard S. Colt, commandant of the 77th, as he thanked and bestowed his blessings on the Dees.
Calling them a very unique and special American family, Colt noted that after spending a few Christmases overseas during his military career, he could vouch for his troops that having a little touch of home, particularly in an area that is stressful, chaotic and where threats to life exists, is such a special, special thought [for them, and] to know that people back here care, that they-re sending best wishes, that they are thinking about them.
As was done when they shipped the original 75 trees on Nov. 18, the Dees sent the new batch to the 1,500 troops still at Anaconda, who are to distribute them to U.S. military camps and facilities across Iraq. Once again, the trees were loaded onto a DHL 18-wheeler that was escorted to Kennedy Airport by a company helicopter and Port Authority and Nassau County police motorcade, and due to arrive on Dec. 18.
Among those 1,500 troops in the 77th is the son of James Adelis Sr., owner of Adelis Securities at JFK and a regular customer at Dee-s, who coordinated the effort to send both loads of trees to bring holiday cheer to the troops in the desert nation.
If we could just put politics aside and just remember our troops and support them, Adelis told the crowd, which included members of East Rockaway-s American Legion and VFW. It-s a very simple and easy thing to do. And I just hope maybe this country will see what we are doing again and maybe inspire people to do what we-ve done...And we should not stop here, we should continue on.
Lucy Adelis said her husband was inspired to send more trees after their son, James Jr., told them that the troops- reaction to the first donation of evergreens, decorations and letters, was unbelievable. The troops were hugging the trees and sticking their heads inside the boxes, she said, because the smell of the pine reminded them of home. Her son-s unit is responsible for a range of transportation, logistical, engineering, security and medical duties.
Colt awarded Certificates of Appreciation to the Dee-s family and others instrumental in making the first donation possible, whether they cut down the trees and shipped them back from the family farm in Franklin, Maine, or wrapped, boxed and loaded them onto the DHL truck. The certificates read: Your generous donation of Christmas trees, lights and decorations has ensured that our service men and women have a little piece of home during this holiday season.
With tears welled in his eyes, Tom Dee Sr., owner of the nursery, said, For a small thing like this to become such a big team effort, from my family to employees to the schools, we-re very fortunate and proud how we all responded to do this and pitched in all the time, money and effort. It-s just a great happening.
One of the trees in the new batch stands 20 feet high, having had perhaps 25 years of growth on the Dees- farm, and will be the centerpiece at Camp Anaconda. In addition to this tall tree, some 20 residents and businesses from Long Island and New York City donated 10 boxes of tree lights, 10 boxes of ornaments, 4 cases of menorahs, and hundreds of pounds of steaks, lobster tails, and shrimp accompanied by barbecue grills.
Fifth-grade students from the Hewlett Elementary School were on hand to deliver holiday cars they created and letters they wrote to the troops. With Colt-s encouragement, some of them read aloud their grateful words and information they thought the troops might not know, such as that Bush had own the election and the Red Sox the World Series.
One girl read: Thank you so much for risking your life for America. No matter how much I write I will never be able to repay you for all that you do.
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