Operation Evergreen 2013

Kaleidoscope Farms is once again honoring U.S. troops by participating in the Operation Evergreen program on Nov. 10.

“We get to celebrate Veteran’s Day in a special way at Kaleidoscope Farms,” said farm owner Dave Reese. “We participate in the Operation Evergreen Program that sends around 100 Christmas trees, complete with handmade ornaments, to troops stationed overseas for the holidays.”

On the Sunday prior to Veteran’s Day, area veterans are invited to come and select Christmas trees from the farm to cut for the program. Local elementary students, high schools students and community groups also visit the farm to present the ornaments they have made to the veterans. Last year there were well over 3,000 ornaments brought to the farm.

The trees and ornaments then go from the farm to the Ohio Department of Agriculture on Nov. 13 where they are inspected and shipped to U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East.

This year’s Operation Evergreen event will be held at the farm on Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. Operation Evergreen is possible thanks to $16,000 in donations to cover the shipping cost of the program.

For more information about Kaleidoscope Farms, visit kaleidoscopefarms.com or call Reese at 419-722-1154.

Veteran's Day and Operation Evergreen

We get to celebrate Veteran’s Day in a special way on my family’s Christmas tree farm in Hancock County. We participate in the Operation Evergreen Program that sends around 300 Christmas trees, complete with handmade ornaments, to troops stationed overseas for the holidays. On the Sunday prior to Veteran’s Day, we invite area veterans to come and select three or four Christmas trees from the farm to cut for this purpose. Local elementary students, high schools students and community groups also visited the farm to present the ornaments they have made to the veterans. This year there were well over 3,000 ornaments brought to the farm. The trees and ornaments then go from our farm to the Ohio Department of Agriculture where they are inspected and shipped off to Iraq, Afghanistan or wherever else U.S. troops are serving.

Each year we have done this, our Grandpa Franklin Deeds has been a part of the ceremony. He served in World War II in the Invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge and, throughout our lives he has demonstrated the epitome of a soldier’s sacrifice in everything he has done. He mostly remains quiet about the horrors of war that he saw in his service to our country, preferring to spend his time working on the farm and helping friends and family with anything asked of him.

With so much sacrifice from so many veterans in this country, it is an honor to play a small part in the Operation Evergreen program that offers just a simple reminder of home for those currently serving.

And, on this Veteran’s Day, we want to say thank you Grandpa, and all veterans, for your incredible sacrifice for this wonderful country.

Kaleidoscope Farms continues the Operation Evergreen tradition

American patriotism, agriculture and Christmas spirit will all be present on Sunday Nov. 6 at 2:00 p.m. when Kaleidoscope Farms once again holds a ceremony to honor veterans while serving those who serve their country.

Through the Ohio Christmas Tree Association’s Operation Evergreen Program, local veterans will gather at the farm to pick out Christmas trees that will be shipped to troops overseas for their holidays spent far from home and their loved ones. Elected officials and area veterans groups have been invited to attend the event.

“This program is so special because it gives us a chance to give just a little to those who are giving so much to us through their service to our country,” said Dave Reese, owner of Kaleidoscope Farms. “We hear back from troops every year telling us that they really appreciate what we’re doing for them. It is very hard to be away from their families over Christmas, and any little reminder of home is very important to them.”

Also at the farm will be students from Cory-Rawson Schools and other area schools and representatives from Kiwanis Village in Tiffin who made decorations to send with the trees. Once the veterans select the Christmas trees for harvest from Kaleidoscope Farms and other farms around the state, they are delivered to the Ohio Department of Agriculture for inspection and then shipped to U.S. military posts around the world. Operation Evergreen was developed by Ohio Christmas Tree Association members in 1995 to bring Christmas cheer to military units serving overseas. This year Kaleidoscope Farms will be sending four of the more than 300 Ohio Christmas trees to troops.

For more information about the event or the Operation Evergreen program, contact Reese at 419-722-1154.