This will be the first Christmas in the Dixon household without father Tom.
Tom has been in Afghanistan since October, leaving wife A.J. and their children home in Halifax until April or May.
“He’s missing his youngest son’s first Christmas,” said the mother of four kids, aged four months to eight years.
“He’s missing a lot.”
The Dixons were the first family to receive a tree from the Canadian Christmas Tree Growers Association, who were on hand at the Halifax and Region Military Family Resource Centre yesterday.
Each year, the Tree Growers Association donates thousands of trees to military families nationwide.
“We’re just showing our support and our commitment to our family’s troops,” said Myles MacPherson, president of the Tree Growers Association.
“And certainly we get warm responses. We get the most beautiful emails and letters of appreciation. You know, it makes you feel great.
As for A.J., she said she appreciates the gesture.
“It’s nice to know there are people who recognize the military community outside the military community,” she said.
