Photo by Charmain Z. Brackett Matthew Gay at his Christmas tree farm. Two local growers participated in this year's Trees for Troops program. Trees were distributed on Dec. 11.

Gay's Christmas Tree Farm in Augusta and Carter Christmas Tree Farm in Grovetown each donated trees to the program.

"The more I've learned about it, the more I wish I had gotten involved sooner," Matthew Gay, owner of Gay's Christmas Tree Farm, said.

Since his farm is not located far from Fort Gordon's Gate 5, Gay was allowed to keep his trees close to home, he said.

Gay's Christmas Tree Farm is located on Tobacco Road, and he said he has many customers from Fort Gordon.

A Christmas tree grower for more than a decade, Gay's Leyland Cypresses have taken top honors at the annual Georgia National Fair each October in Perry, Ga., where he has won best of show three of the past four years. The year he didn't take home best of show, he placed second.

Photo by Bonnie Heater Retired Sgt. 1st Class Robert Howard of Augusta selects his Christmas tree from the many trees donated to the Trees for Troops program. The trees were donated by Christmas tree growers in the United States. They were delivered to the parking lot near the post's dinner theatre by FedEx. Photo by Bonnie Heater Cards were found on several of the Trees for Troops. A different card was tied to each Christmas tree. Photo by Bonnie Heater Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Shrout helps Petty Officer 2nd Class Sharmel Wright pick out a Christmas tree from the many trees donated to the Trees for Troops program. Photo by Charmain Z. Brackett Soldiers help put a Christmas tree in a vehicle for the trip home.