Several retired military members recalled the loneliness they felt when they were deployed at Christmas.

They enlightened more than 100 people who attended the kickoff of Trees for Troops weekend at Yenser’s Tree Farm in Mahoning Township on Friday the importance of the event.

This is the 20th year of Trees for Troops at Yenser’s has been participating annually in each one. This year, Yenser’s will be sending about 250 trees — as well as a monetary donation — to families housed on military bases in Missouri and Georgia.

The kickoff program was held in the newly constructed Valley View pavilion at Yenser’s.

During Trees for Troops weekend at Yenser’s, trees can be purchased for $30 each specifically for donation to Trees for Troops.

Trees already contributed were loaded into a FedEx trailer on the tree farm by volunteers, including JROTC students from Panther Valley High School and Lehighton Middle School students.

The owners of the tree farm, Ryan and Jan Wentz, explained the commitment of Yenser’s Tree Farm to Trees for Troops. Jan’s relatives, Yenser family members who previously owned the tree farm, all had been military members. As soon as they heard that a Trees for Troops program was being created back in 2005, they wanted to be a part of it.

Some trees in the Trees for Troops weekend were also donated by Jay Michalik, who owns a tree farm in Mahoning Township, and Old Homestead Tree Farm.

Among the speakers was retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Marvin Jay Barry, a former Lehighton resident. He said his first Christmas on deployment was in 1971. “It was in Saigon, of all places,” he said. “I’ve gone through the heartbreak of the holiday.”

He said the Christmas trees given to military bases “can bring a lot of warmth to your heart and happiness to the families.”

Of military members, he urged, “Keep them in your heart and prayers as we go through this holiday season.”

Carbon County District Attorney Michael Greek, a military veteran, said, “You don’t know the loneliness you feel when you’re away.”

Also speaking was Carbon County Commissioner Rocky Ahner, who said the trees “will give them joy” as they protect our freedoms.

The Lehighton United Veterans Organization Color Guard presented the colors.

The national anthem was sung by the Lehighton High School Chorus. The chorus also sang a Christmas hymn, “Silent Night.”

Numerous cash donations for the Trees for Troops program were made during the program.

Donations received were:

BHA Oak Ridge Academy — $475.

VFW, McAdoo — $500.

AMVETS Post 1, McAdoo — $1,000.

Panther Valley High School JROTC— $820.

Lehighton Area High School National Honor Society — $2,123.54.

Zion United Church of Christ — $350.

American Legion Post 304, Sons of the Legion and Legion Auxiliary, Jim Thorpe — $1,300.

Dinkey Memorial Lutheran Church — $210.

Lehighton Middle School — $1,032.56.

Lehighton American Legion Post — $300.

Lehighton United Veterans Organization — $300.

Sons of American Legion, Lehighton — $250.

St. John;’s Lutheran Church — $637.

District Attorney Michael Greek, amount not mentioned.

Palmerton VFW — $620.

Lehighton Elementary Center — $2,218.29.

Vietnam Veterans, Mountain City Chapter — $300.

Vietnam Veterans of Carbon County, amount not mentioned.

Lehigh Elementary School, Northampton School District (Former Yenser’s Tree Farm owner Drew Yenser is a former principal) — $2,082.

Mike Chickilly, a 23-year military member, amount not mentioned.

Knights of Columbus, Summit Hill — $600.

Individual family — $100.

To donate to Trees for Troops, go to yenserstreefarm.com or visit the farm this weekend.