Tampa: Homage to troops red, white, blue (and green)
A family's Christmas tree festooned with patriotic decorations will not be tucked away until soldiers are safely home from Iraq.
By JONATHAN MILTON
Published January 16, 2004
While most people have taken down their Christmas trees, the Benitez family is adding more decorations to theirs.
The 5-foot tree adorns the foyer of their Matanzas Avenue house near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. It honors the troops stationed in Iraq.
"It's going to be up until all of our troops come home," said Fredy Benitez, whose stepson, Sgt. Charles Moran, 23, has been in Iraq since March.
Moran, who is serving with the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery, has lived in Tampa since 1994 and graduated from Hillsborough High School. Instead of going right to college, he joined the military.
His cousin, Sgt. Joseph Forte, 25, of New Jersey, is also serving overseas, with Special Forces in Afghanistan.
Moran's family set up the artificial tree in October when he was home for a visit.
"We had an early Thanksgiving," his mother, Nancy Benitez, said. "We had lots of family over for dinner. He sat at the head of the table and was his regular, funny self."
The tree has red, white and blue strands of lights and patriotic-themed ornaments, including American flags and camouflaged Beanie Babies.
The tree is also decorated with photographs of Moran in Iraq. One photo shows him sitting in a gun tower in Baghdad. Another shows him and other troops holding currency from Iraq and the United States.
Neighbors and family members from all over the country have contributed decorations. President Bush sent a letter, which hangs on the wall above the tree.
"I sent a picture of the tree to him and he wrote back and said thank you for your support," Nancy Benitez said. "He was proud of my son dedicating his life."
She plans to continue adding decorations, even though the holidays are long past. Moran is scheduled to come home in April.
"I want everybody to know that there is a symbol in Tampa that lets the troops know that we are supporting them," she said. "I want my tree to ring like the Liberty Bell."
