Stories

A volunteer holds up signs to separate ticketholders at a Trees for Troops 2011 event at UMA Lot 1 here, Dec. 9. More than 1,025 free Christmas trees were handed out to service members and their families during the event. - A volunteer holds up signs to separate ticketholders at a Trees for Troops 2011 event at UMA Lot 1 here, Dec. 9. More than 1,025 free Christmas trees were handed out to service members and their families during the event.

Christmas ornaments with names of service members and their families are collected at the annual Winter Festival at the Stuart Mesa Community Center here, Dec. 7. The ornaments were later used to decorate a tree honoring the military families. - Christmas ornaments with names of service members and their families are collected at the annual Winter Festival at the Stuart Mesa Community Center here, Dec. 7. The ornaments were later used to decorate a tree honoring the military families.

For military members, many of whom are stationed away from their families or hometowns, paying for transportation or sending gifts to family members around the world can make or break the bank. - For military members, many of whom are stationed away from their families or hometowns, paying for transportation or sending gifts to family members around the world can make or break the bank.