HTN: Trees to Families Overseas

Christmas tree farms across Western New York and across the country are pitching in to bring a little holiday cheer to military families here and abroad. Forty-six local trees are going out to military families across the country, while trees from Ohio and Indiana are already on their way to Iraq and other overseas destinations. The Trees for Troops program started in 2005 with the help of Federal Express. Since the program began, over 34-thousand trees have been distributed to families on 40 bases in 17 countries. This year, the program hopes to deliver over 16-thousand trees to 45 U.S. and overseas military bases.

Wounded Vet Won't Have to Report

While serving in Afghanistan, 26-year-old James Raymond lost most of his hearing in his left ear and suffered serious knee injuries. Despite that, in April he got orders to report for duty in Iraq. Now, action by the local Congressional delegation has led the Army to give Raymond a one year standby reserve classification, a non-deployable status. His eight year commitment to the Army will end at the same time his new classification runs out.

Iraq Veteran Gains Appeal

Twenty-six-year-old James Raymond has served in Iraq. He came home with a hearing injury and was put on a ten-percent disability pension of 120-dollars a month. He enrolled at the University of Buffalo and then got orders to report back for duty. Raymond complained that he isn't sure it would be safe for his comrades in arms for him to be back on the front lines with his hearing impairment. Local political pressure has lead the army to allow Raymond to finish the semester at UB and they say they will take up to three months to review his appeal. He won't have to report to Fort Benning by May 18th as originally ordered.