Master Sgt. Arlita Crawford of Huntsville, Texas, serving in South Korea with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Division, checks out the patriotic Christmas tree at the Camp Red Cloud, South Korea, post exchange Wednesday. (Seth Robson / S&S)

CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea — Soldiers serving in South Korea can boost their comrades’ morale by writing a message of support on one of several Patriot Family Holiday trees sprouting up in Area I.

The trees have been set up at post exchanges at Camp Red Cloud, Camp Casey and Camp Stanley, Army and Air Force Exchange Service Area I manager Ronald Daugherty said Wednesday.

“The tree symbolizes our unified military family, the Patriot Family. We are all a family sharing the common commitment of serving our country,” he said.

Soldiers can express their support by writing a message or displaying a photo on a card to be hung on the tree, he said.

Master Sgt. Arlita Crawford of Huntsville, Texas, who is serving in South Korea with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Division, said the trees are a good idea.

Her message to the troops in Iraq was: “God’s blessings to them and I wish them a safe return home,” she said.

This Christmas will be Crawford’s fourth away from home and family, including a 19-year-old daughter who lives in Texas, she said.

“I’m used to it, but I miss being around family members. This year I’m going to spend Christmas with some friends in Korea,” she said.