Wichita ? More than 100 Christmas trees were on their way to Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, as a gift from Kansas tree growers.

The trees that left Wichita Monday are part of a national Trees for Troops program.

Willy Goevert, owner of the 4C Tree Farm near Wichita, says the tree growers want to do something to show appreciation to the troops.

Growers from across the nation have donated between 15,000 and 16,000 trees for military troops to use over the holidays for each of the past five years.

Nine Kansas growers donated Scotch and Virginia pines this year.

The website for Trees for Troops says the trees have been distributed to families in every branch of the military at more than 50 bases in 17 countries.