Photo Information Cpl. Jonathan Figueroa, Marine Corps Ceremonial Platoon detail commander, and Kelly Figueroa bring their two-year-old and one-year-old to the Fifth Annual Base Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Lejeune Hall Dec. 6. Photo by Ida Irby Download Details Share Ooh Rah, Christmas Tree 10 Dec 2015 | Ida Irby Marine Corps Base Quantico PRINT SHARE Marine Corps Base Quantico -- With the help of two military children, Base Commander Col. Joseph Murray counted down from 10 to initiate the lighting of the base tree during the Fifth Annual Base Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico Dec. 6. “The tree is a symbol of holiday cheer. The Marine Corps is what we hold dear. Thank you for the sacrifices you make. We know you do it all for our sake. We hope your Christmas is the best it can be. Thank you for keeping us safe and free. Come together and join me. It’s time to light the tree,” read Murray from a special poem created by Marine Corps Community Services staff, titled Quantico Christmas Tree.Following the official lighting observance families waited in line for nearly an hour to take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.Santa arrived in a red Cadillac, led by the Quantico Fire Department. The bright lights and sirens drew in the crowd of families hoping to share the magic of Christmas with small children. “Our event serves as a way to bring the military community together during Christmastime. Everyone has the opportunity to participate in Quantico’s tradition of lighting the base tree and even see Santa,” said Gary Gutshall, Marine Corps Community Service director of operations. Children also took time to play in a bouncing house, climb into antique cars, create Christmas tree ornaments and dance to festive holiday music. After 35 years of working on the base, “I always enjoyed the music of D.J. Manny V,” said Gutshall. “Having him here makes a big difference, because he always plays the perfect tunes.”During the event, families had the opportunity to choose the pinnacle of holiday décor from a large selection of more than 50 trees. These trees were donated by Tom O’Halloran. For more than 25 years local holiday trees have been donated to military families from O’Halloran, a 77-year-old Vietnam veteran and owner of Glengary Tree Farm in Amissville, Virginia. Marines from the Single Marine Program volunteered to help load each hand-picked tree. “O’Halloran takes a lot of pride in providing freshly cut trees to our Marines,” said Stephanie Taber, MCCS Family Readiness Program.A Toys for Tots toy drive was held as part of the evenings’ events. Small children and adults donated new unwrapped toys, which will benefit thousands of children in need during the holiday season. — Writer: iirby@quanticosentryonline.com Tags Marine Corps Base Quantico , Quantico Christmas Tree , Lejeune Hall , christmas , Fifth Annual Base Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony , Toys for Tots , Santa Claus , Base Commander Col. Joseph Murray , Santa and Mrs. Claus