LURAY, Va -- Nearly 200 trees will fill a truck and be shipped to troops around the country.

As a veteran who missed Christmas for two years when he served in the Army, Donald Middleton knows how much the soldiers will appreciate the gift.

"It was lonesome sometimes you know no family around. Phone calls were expensive. It's not like the cellphones and stuff they have now," said Middleton.

Even more people are donating to the Trees for Troops this year. David Thomas, the owner of Valley Star Farm, said he will send about 50 more trees this year than last year.

"The troops, they do a lot for us and protect our freedoms and are putting their lives on the line each day and I think this is the least we can do and a lot of people feel the same way," said Thomas.

Thomas said a lot of people and organizations donated Christmas trees to the troops this year and he matched every donation with a tree from his farm. He said even just having a tree can make a huge difference on the holidays.

"So it kind of gives them a sense of family, a sense of home, a sense of love that people are concerned about them and thinking about them and glad for what they do," said Thomas.

That is something that Middleton understands, since he has experienced being away from his family during the holidays.

"It shows that this country is concerned about the men and women who are serving in the military, so when we send a Christmas tree like this, it brings back the memories of home for them," said Middleton.

Thomas said this is the fourth year his farm has donated Christmas trees to the troops. He said their truck load will leave for the National Guard base in Georgia.

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