Students from Rhame Avenue School in East Rockaway proudly participated in the 21st annual Trees for Troops event at Dee’s Nursery in Oceanside, contributing to a cherished tradition that spreads holiday cheer to service members stationed overseas. The event, which has grown into a significant community effort, showcased the generosity and collaboration of local organizations, schools and first responders.

Twenty-one years ago, a mother walked into Dee’s Nursery and asked if they could send a Christmas tree to her son, who was deployed overseas. With the help of DHL, that tree made its way to the serviceman. Since then, Dee’s Nursery and DHL have partnered to send over 12,000 Christmas trees to troops stationed abroad, including locations such as Bahrain, Kuwait and Djibouti.

Dee’s Nursery, a family-run business founded as a flower cart 70 years ago by Tom DiDominica, has grown into a cornerstone of the Oceanside community. Today, it is run by Tom’s son Joe, with four generations of the DiDominica family contributing to its legacy.

This year’s Trees for Troops event was a collaborative effort involving numerous organizations and schools. Participating police departments included Nassau County PD, Garden City PD, Lynbrook PD, Malverne PD, Hempstead PD, Sands Point PD, NYPD and the MTA.

These agencies provided an escort for the trucks carrying the trees to DHL’s facility at JFK Airport, where the trees would begin their journey overseas. Partners such as TSA and border control also played essential roles in facilitating the process.

Representatives from the Oceanside Fire Department, Nassau County fire marshals, and Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick were in attendance, along with veterans’ groups including the VFW, Patriot Riders, and American Legion chapters. The Girl Scouts of Nassau County also participated, with one member singing the national anthem and the CEO speaking about Operation Cookie.

Students from Rhame Avenue School joined other schools from Lynbrook, Hewlett, Hempstead’s Academy Charter School, and Oceanside High School at the event. Two Rhame Avenue students, Chase Kearns and Alexis Merceus, had the honor of reading a heartfelt letter they wrote to the troops. They were joined by 15 classmates, members of the Student Council and World Culture Clubs, who proudly represented their school.

The event featured musical performances, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and an exhilarating flyby by the DHL helicopter. Students from all participating schools shared letters they had written to service members, adding a personal touch to the day’s festivities.

Following the ceremony at Dee’s Nursery, participants drove to JFK Airport to assist in loading the trees onto a DHL cargo plane bound for Cincinnati and, ultimately, to troops stationed overseas. The event demonstrated the power of community spirit and the importance of supporting those who serve our nation.

Rhame Avenue School is immensely proud to have been part of this heartwarming event, which brought joy and gratitude to service members far from home during the holiday season.