FedEx Freight Delivers 1,028 Christmas Trees to Marines, Sailors [Gallery]

Cpl. Courtez Ross picked up a Christmas tree on base Friday morning and lugged it to his truck. He smiled almost the whole way even though this will be the second year he spends Christmas away from his family. Last year he was in Afghanistan.

“I miss my family,” the 21-year-old said.

Though this year will be better than last year, he said, because he will spend Christmas with his twin brother, Courtney, who is also stationed at the base.

Ross’ live tree was one of 1,028 that FedEx Freight delivered to the base as part of the Christmas SPIRIT foundation in the annual Trees for Troops program.  The program began in 2005 and delivers to some 60 military bases around the country, according to a FedEx spokesperson.  The program hit a milestone Friday at Camp Pendleton by delivering its 100,000 tree to Marine sergeants Jonathan and Jessica Felix.

FedEx Freight employees assisted Marines, sailors and their families in picking, carrying and loading the trees in their cars.

He expects the tree to be gathering spot for other single Marines in the barracks.

“Everybody will probably come around my room and hover around the tree (and) make some s’mores in the microwave,” he said.