Larry Hyder made a pledge and seals it each year with fresh-cut silver tips.
Packed with candy, small gifts and notes from home, Hyder's little 2-foot Christmas trees will travel the globe to El Dorado County residents serving in the military.
"I'm an old serviceman and I want people to remember our troops," said the Army veteran. "I was a platoon leader and company commander in Korea. Men died in my arms.
"I said I would never forget," he added. "This is my way of remembering."
Hyder, 82, started mailing trees to troops from his Indian Rock Tree Farm during the Vietnam War in an effort organized by then-El Dorado County Supervisor Carl Borelli. This small tribute has turned into a major community cause with several clubs and civic groups pitching in to help.
"In the last 40 years, we've sent probably close to 4,000 trees, all over the world," Hyder said. "Wherever they're deployed, we'll get them a tree. All we need is a name and address."
Donations cover the cost of shipping, about $20 per tree. Boxes include instant Starbucks coffee, hand cream, lip balm, caramels, fudge, helmet liners and other surprises, contributed by local volunteers.
"We mailed 82 boxes last year," mostly to Afghanistan and Iraq, said Geri Hyder, Larry's wife. "We have fewer addresses so far this year; that's a good thing. It means troops are coming home. But as long as they're over there, they'll get trees."
Names and addresses of El Dorado County service men and women may be sent to indianrock@directcon.net. Kept fresh with water-soaked sponges wrapped in plastic, the trees arrive about two weeks after leaving Camino.
"The thank-you notes we get back are priceless," Geri added. "One soldier wrote that when he opened the box, it smelled like home. He said, 'It smelled amazing and not like sand – which is all we have here.' "
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