At this time last year Kris Rehder was using bullet casing and grenades to decorate an artificial Christmas tree his mother sent to him in Iraq.

“We used whatever we could find,” he said.

This year the 30-year-old solider, who recently returned to the United States after he was wounded during his second tour in Iraq, happily used hundreds of white lights and snow angels Wednesday to decorate the Montana Outreach Christmas tree — themed “Guardian Angel of Light” for the 21st Annual Festival of Trees.

Rick Blair, who recently moved to the Queen City from the Flathead Valley, was assisting Rehder in the decorating festivities.

“We are shooting from the hip,” Blair said, grinning as he wrapped another string of lights around the tree.

At the other end of the Helena Civic Center, Mary Gegenhuber and a group from Blue Cross Blue Shield set up their tree , which created a scene depicting Santa’s activities the day after Christmas.

The Christmas tree, shaped like a palm tree, was decorated with tropical flowers and pink flamingos, a margarita maker underneath, and all the trimmings for a beach party including a $300 gift certificate from Flathead Valley Travel.

This is Becky Bahny-Rusher’s 17th year of designing a tree for the event. Many of those years she has been assisted by Linda Mason and Sandi Smith.

This year, their tree depicts the inside of a music box complete with mirrors at the top of an antiqued tree with branches hand painted gold. A four-foot porcelain doll sits in front of the turning tree, holding an original Shirley Temple doll valued at $900.

“It’s exciting to create something for people with the hope of bringing in money for others,” Bahny-Rusher said.

Mason said the creativity behind each tree keeps her coming back to donate her time and energy year after year, and the group already has their idea for next year’s tree.

“It’s fun for people to see our creation come to life,” Mason said.

The Festival of Trees is Intermountain’s largest annual fundraiser, bringing in about $234,000 last year, said Communications Manager Maggie Long.

This year’s event boasts 29 large trees for sale at the live auction and 132 table-sized trees at the silent auction, but Long said the event really is about publicizing Intermountain’s mission of providing a therapeutic environment for children under severe emotional distress.

“It’s a great way for the community to get involved because they can’t work directly with the kids,” she said.

Anne Wilmoth, co-chair of the event, said the event fills visitors with joy.

“It’s really a magical way to start the Christmas season,” Wilmoth said. “It gives the children of Intermountain hope when they can feel the love and support from the entire Helena community.”

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com