One From The Heart
Monday December 5th was a special day
around these parts when a grand tradition begun 19 years ago during
the Iran and Iraq War, moving air cargo shipments of Christmas Trees
and other pleasantries to our troops, once again took off from John
F. Kennedy International Airport via DHL and Dees' Nursery & Florist
Inc.
Dees' is an old-time family plant and
nursery, in business near the airport since 1958 just ten years after
today’s JFK, then known as Idlewild (Idlewild Airport) went
into business in 1948. Dees is located just off the main runways in
nearby Oceanside, New York.
Dees'
spends most of the year selling plants and trees and lawn care products
to people from all over the metropolitan area.
But
once a year Dees' chops down several hundred Christmas trees from
its big farm in Maine and, in partnership with DHL, sends the trees
free of charge to U.S. troops in in far-flung outposts worldwide.
The Christmas Trees for Troops initiative,
now branded Operation Holiday Cheer was launched in December 2004
after local businessman the late Jim Adelis overheard a woman at Dees'
Nursery near JFK inquiring about how to ship a Christmas tree to her
son in Iraq. Adelis reached out to DHL and the local community to
deliver more than just a single tree.
We
remember Jim, who died in April 2020, for his selfless giving spirit
that has become a proud tradition lifting everyone, that continues
today.
Usually the press pick-up
of this event goes mostly to DHL and their big trailers and airplanes,
and the helicopter with Santa aboard that shows up at Dees' for the
Christmas tree shipment before the evergreens are sent to the airport
for departure.
After all the DHL
ballyhoo, Dees' has really great, fresh cut trees for sale. We had
the opportunity to speak to Joseph DiDominica and Thomas & Karen
DiDominica.
“We will continue
to provide these trees until the soldiers get home,” Tom said.
“That is the least we can do to
support our troops,” said brother Joe.
Business
is business, but these brothers bring home the real meaning of Christmas
and make the Yuletide bright.
Air
Cargo honors those who serve.
The
straight from the shoulder, right from the heart effort of the people
of DHL and especially the love and mercy of the folks of Dees' is
just superb.
Dees' has not forgotten
the little folks either, with several "Pancake Breakfasts With
Santa" scheduled upcoming right up to Christmas.
Dees'
is located at: 69 Atlantic Avenue, Oceanside, NY 11572. (516) 678-3535.
http://www.deesnursery.com. |
|
FlyingTypers
reserves the right to edit all submissions for length and content. All
photos and written material submitted to this publication become the
property of FlyingTypers Media.
100%
Green