After five years, soldier to spend Christmas at home

[David]

The Olympian


FORT LEWIS – Christmas for Spc. Matthew Goldsmith and his family will be special in more ways than one.

Goldsmith, 25, will spend the holidays with his family in his own home for the first time in five years after several deployments.

And an Olympia-based company added to the Goldsmiths' holiday cheer Friday by decorating their home on post for free to recognize Goldsmith's service.

"It just really makes it a holiday," said his wife, Dana, 23. "I'm huge on Christmas. It's so neat to have the house decorated."

The couple has been married four years and has two sons, Sam, 2, and Joey, 1.

Goldsmith has deployed three times in five years with both National Guard and active-duty units: a nine-month tour in Egypt and two deployments to Iraq of 18 months and 14 months. He returned home eight days before Christmas in 2006 but spent it at his in-laws' home in Colorado.

The infantryman's last deployment was with the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), based at Fort Lewis. He returned home in May.

Before Thanksgiving, Dana Goldsmith learned about the "Decorated Soldiers" program offered by Christmas Decor, an outdoor lighting and decorating franchise.

The program decorates the houses of service members for free. Christmas Decor decorated 35 homes in 2003 and plans to finish at least 100 this holiday season.

Dana Goldsmith prodded her husband to submit an application, which includes a 500-word essay on why the service member should be chosen.

His application was forwarded to Country Green Turf Farms of Olympia, which bought into the franchise to keep its employees working through the winter season. The 20-year-old company sells turf to many customers, including Seattle professional sports teams.

"It means a lot," said Randy Dasalla, the company's general manager and a 1984 West Point graduate. "It's a small token of our appreciation for what they do."

Workers installed Christmas lights along the roof and around windows — all controlled by electric timers — and garland around the garage door. They will return in January to take the decorations down.

Dasalla also presented the family with $300 in gift cards.

Matthew Goldsmith said money is tight for the family this season, and the gifts are much appreciated.

"It really helps bring the whole Christmas together," he said.