DHL delivers Christmas cheer to U.S. troops abroad, marking 21 years of operation holiday cheer 

DHL Express, the world’s leading provider of international express shipping services, is once again delivering holiday cheer to U.S. service members stationed far from home.

For the 21st consecutive year, DHL is making the season a little brighter by sending hundreds of freshly cut Christmas trees, complete with ornaments, lights, menorahs, and letters from schoolchildren to U.S. troops stationed in Djibouti, Kuwait, and Bahrain. This beloved annual initiative, known as Operation Holiday Cheer, is organized in partnership with Dees’ Nursery and various New York-area charities.

“The holidays can be especially challenging for those stationed abroad, away from family and friends,” said DHL Express U.S. CEO Greg Hewitt. “Operation Holiday Cheer allows us to show our appreciation and bring a piece of home to these brave men and women. This project holds a special place in the hearts of our entire DHL family, and it’s an honor to utilize our network to deliver a bit of holiday warmth to our troops overseas.”

Kicking off on Monday, Dec. 9, Operation Holiday Cheer begins with a festive event at Dees’ Nursery in Oceanside, NY. Veterans, local community members, schoolchildren, and Nassau County officials will join the celebration, with Santa making a special appearance. Students will read their heartfelt letters to soldiers, followed by a performance of holiday and patriotic songs by the American Bombshells.

Following the celebration, a police motorcade will accompany the special convoy from Dees’ Nursery to DHL’s JFK Gateway facility. The decorations, letters, and trees will be loaded onto a DHL 767 jet. After a brief stop at DHL’s Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport hub, the shipment will head directly to the DHL Bahrain hub before reaching U.S. military bases in the region.

This year’s contributions include trees from Dees’ Nursery and items donated by local organizations, including Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon, Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski Memorial Fund, and various VFW chapters throughout New York State.

DHL’s Operation Holiday Cheer traces its origins to 2004, when the mother of a deployed U.S. soldier requested help sending her son a Christmas tree. Inspired by this request, Dees’ Nursery, along with local businessman Jim Adelis and DHL, arranged the delivery. Since then, DHL has transported over 13,500 Christmas trees to troops overseas, providing a heartwarming reminder of home each holiday season.