OSKALOOSA — Decorating your Christmas tree with a theme adds interest and helps bring out your creative side.

“It is a labor of love, going from selecting a theme to making it something beautiful,” said Ruth Branderhorst of Oskaloosa.

Over the past several years, she has designed several beautifully decorated theme Christmas trees for the Festival of Christmas Delights at the Oskaloosa Christian School.

A few themes have included: A man’s tree, a Christian tree, star tree and the “All Things Bright and Beautiful” tree done in burgundy and silver.

This year, she chose to do a “military tree” to honor those who have served or are currently serving in the military.

“The war is so unpopular. So many in the military will be spending the holidays abroad. I wanted to do something to honor and support our troops,” she said.

Over 130 names were submitted by the community to be featured on the tree, including names of those who have served in just about every war, including World War I.

“It is a huge thank you to them for our freedoms,” she said.

Along with the tree is a quote from John 15:13 in the Bible, “Greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends.”

“We did learn a lot, it was very interesting to hear the families’ stories,” Branderhorst said.

The 12-foot military tree was a challenge to decorate. Branderhorst, along with Joan Kunz and Kristin Plate, spent several months planning the tree and then about five to six hours decorating it.

Branderhorst usually makes some of her own ornaments. She tries to use her creativity to say what she wants to say without a lot of cost.

“It is fun to make it beautiful and get people to catch on to your idea,” she said.

Military trees can be done privately, too; it can be a way for families to feel connected while a loved one is serving abroad or as a tribute to ancestors who have served in previous wars.

Branderhorst has lived in the Oskaloosa area since the 1960s and has five adult children. She is a stay-at-home grandma, who helps her husband out on the farm. She volunteers in her church, teaches a Sunday school class and serves on the state board for the Iowa Alliance for Choice in Education. She enjoys gardening, singing and sewing.