TREE FARMERS SEND EVERGREEN WISHES TO MILITARY FAMILIES.Byline: ALEX DOBUZINSKIS Staff Writer VALENCIA -- Evergreens from a Christmas tree Christmas tree Evergreen tree, usually decorated with lights and ornaments, to celebrate the Christmas season. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands as symbols of eternal life was common among the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. ranch in Valencia made their way Tuesday to brighten bright·en tr. & intr.v. bright·ened, bright·en·ing, bright·ens To make or become bright or brighter. bright the holidays for military families. Owners of local tree farms loaded 60 Monterey pines, Fraser firs and noble firs into a FedEx truck at Nancy's Ranch. The load was bound for the Marine Corps base at Twentynine Palms. ``I think it's a great cause,'' said Nancy Roatcap, owner of Nancy's Ranch. ``I really admire our military people that ... keep our country free.'' FedEx Corp. and a charity affiliated with the National Christmas Tree Association organized a drive to collect and deliver 11,000 Christmas trees to military families in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and overseas. The 60 Christmas trees loaded onto a FedEx truck in Valencia were part of that effort. The trees were donated by Roatcap; her brother, Dan Roatcap, a tree farmer in Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. and Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. ; Don Cameron, a Santa Paula Santa Paula (săn`tə pôl`ə), city (1990 pop. 25,062), Ventura co., S Calif., on the Santa Clara River in a fertile valley that yields citrus fruits, avocados, vegetables, flowers, nursery products, and walnuts; laid out 1875, inc. farmer who heads up the California Christmas Tree Association, and some individuals. Dan Roatcap wrapped the base of his donated trees in wet newspapers in an attempt to keep them from drying out. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. how long it's going to take FedEx to get there, so we want to make sure these trees are fresh for them,'' he said. Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base will receive 1,000 trees from the program. The trees will be brought to a big open field. ``It's a huge event, and the Marines will come and throw (a tree) on their vehicle, and the wives will help, and the kids will get involved, so it's a pretty magical experience,'' said Marine Staff Sgt. Jess Lure, a spokesman for the base. ``It's especially awesome for ... the wives (whose) Marine is overseas, and they get a Christmas tree, and it can kind of lift up their spirits until their husband comes home,'' he added. alex.dobuzinskis@dailynews.com (661) 257-5253 CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- ran in Valley edition only) Nancy Roatcap of Nancy's Ranch in Valencia prepares donated Christmas trees to be delivered by FedEx to Marine families in an annual Trees for Troops campaign. (2 -- ran in SAC edition only) Dan Roatcap, owner of Santa Paula Christmas Tree Farm, unloads some of his trees at his sister Nancy Sister Nancy (born Nancy Russell) is an 80's dancehall (reggae) singer from Kingston, Jamaica whose biggest hit was "Bam Bam". In 2006, she collaborated with Thievery Corporation on their 2006 compiliation Versions, on the track, "Originality. Roatcap's tree farm in Valencia. Owners of area tree farms teamed up to load a FedEx truck with trees for this year's Christmas Trees for Troops drive. (3 -- ran in SAC edition only) Don Cameron, president of the California Christmas Tree Association and owner of Christmas Ranch Tree Farms of Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley, unloads trees he and his wife donated and delivered to Nancy's Ranch in Valencia on Tuesday for trucking to Marine families. John Lazar/Staff Photographer |
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