Christmas Tree Shipment to Spread Holiday Cheer to U.S. Troops in the Middle East; DHL Partners with U.S. Army Reserve and Local New York Businesses to Ship More Than 1,000 Trees, Lights, and Decorations to Troops this Holiday Season.

PLANTATION, Fla. -- An aircraft carrying a special holiday shipment will lift off from John F. Kennedy International Airport this evening destined for U.S. troops serving in the Middle East. For the second straight year, DHL, the world's leading express delivery and logistics provider, has partnered with the U.S. Army Reserve 77th Regional Readiness Command and local New York businesses to deliver Christmas trees, menorahs, ornaments and lights to American service men and women stationed overseas during the holiday season.

This year, 1,000 Christmas trees donated by DHL and Dee's Nursery of Long Island will accompany 4000 boxes of lights, ornaments, menorahs, and holiday cards purchased with donations collected though a partnership of local New York businesses, organizations including VFW Post #1896 in Jamaica, Queens, private citizens, and DHL. 'Santa Sacks,' filled with holiday cards and letters written by children from numerous schools in the New York metro area will also accompany the shipment. The entire shipment will receive a special send off today at DHL's Gateway facility at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Children from several local schools, the Radio City Rockettes, and USO singers will participate in the send off celebration.

The DHL Christmas Trees for Troops initiative was launched last year after local businessman Jim Adelis overheard a woman at Dee's Nursery in Nassau County, Long Island inquiring about how to ship a Christmas tree to her son in Iraq. Adelis, whose son was stationed in Iraq at the time, was inspired to reach out to DHL and the local community to deliver more than a single tree. Through a partnership with DHL, the U.S. Army Reserve 77th Regional Readiness Command, Dee's Nursery, and local New York residents and businesses, a total of 135 Christmas trees, along with lights, decorations, menorahs and holiday cards were sent to troops stationed at Camp Anaconda in Balad, Iraq, in December 2004.

"Last year, DHL was honored to be a partner in bringing the holiday spirit to our troops in Iraq. We are delighted to be able to take part again this year to deliver holiday cheer to the thousands of troops who will not be home for the holidays," said Fred Beljaars, Executive Vice President for Operations at DHL. "It is always wonderful to see a community that cares so much about our service men and women come together like this during the holidays. We are proud to continue our support for this special holiday delivery, and for the brave members of our armed forces."

This year, the DHL shipment will receive an escort by members of the Nassau County, Lynbrook, Long Beach, New York City, and Port Authority Police to the DHL international gateway at JFK Airport. From New York, the shipment will travel to Bahrain, where the trees, ornaments, and decorations will be distributed among military camps in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Bahrain, to help spread holiday cheer among U.S. troops stationed throughout the Middle East.

A send off celebration at JFK airport this morning will commence with words of thanks and appreciation from Major General Richard S. Colt, Ret., former commanding general of the 77th Regional Readiness Command. Major General Colt will be accompanied by Colonel David Fitzgerald of the U.S. Army, who received trees from last year's shipment while serving at Camp Anaconda. Jim Adelis and his son, Jim Adelis Jr., who just returned home from his station at the 369th Transportation Unit in Camp Anaconda, Iraq, will also be in attendance along with the Dee family of Dee's Nursery, and Neal Moran, Director of DHL's JFK Gateway.

"The shipment of these trees reflects the true spirit of the Holiday season, and I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all who have shown such generosity in this endeavor," said Major General Richard S. Colt, Ret., former commanding general of the 77th Regional Readiness Command.

This year, DHL has also partnered with the March Joint Powers Authority in Southern California and the local community in Riverside, CA, where DHL's main west coast air and ground hub is located, to coordinate another special shipment. DHL will deliver 350 Christmas trees, as well as tree lights, ornaments and holiday cards, to the members of the First and Second Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq, which was deployed from March Air Reserve Base in Riverside. This second 2005 holiday shipment will depart from DHL's new air and ground hub in Riverside, CA for Bahrain on December 12th.

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