Prayer Angels for the Military will be hosting two different events for the holidays to give support to the Santa Clarita Valley’s members of the armed services, past and present.

The first event is a care package drive for troops held at the Old Town Newhall Library on Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The care package drive brings families together to make gifts to send to the troops overseas.

People can drive up to the library and donate anything they wish to help the troops or can donate their time in helping put the care packages together, said Suzan Gerstel president of Prayer Angels for the Military.

“Families, veterans, kids and community members can participate,” Gerstel said. “In fact three kids have been deployed that used to be apart of the event, it’s a wonderful thing to provide for the kids.”

The second event is a tree lighting ceremony in the Veterans’ Historical Plaza on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m.

“(The event is to) honor our military all past and present,” Gerstel said. “It started out from the beginning when we were at war in Afghanistan and Iraq as a tribute active duty troops. Later we included all veterans.”

During the ceremony, officials will light up a 26-foot-tall tree in the plaza that will be full of ornaments and different color laminated stars with the pictures of veterans and those that have passed while on duty, Gerstel said.

“We want it to be about our military,” Gerstel said. “You can see that star even when you’re far away because the tree is so big.”

In addition to the lighting there will be carolers at the event singing holiday songs of cheer and goodies for the tree, Gerstel said.

About Prayer Angels for the Military

Prayer Angels for the Military started out as a handful of women supporting their children and husbands in the first deployment to Iraq in 2003.

Almost immediately the children and husbands gave them the names of other Marines and soldiers who also needed prayers and support. After that, the list just kept growing. The group of supporters grew, too, and Prayer Angels for the Military was officially founded July 14, 2004.

– Skylar Barti