Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 New York Air Guardsmen tracking Santa as part of NORAD By Timothy Jones,
                New York National Guard
 ROME, N.Y. – The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will celebrate its 66th year of tracking Santa Claus Christmas Eve with the help of the New York Air National Guard and Royal Canadian Air Force at the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS). “We’re delighted to support NORAD’s Santa tracking operations,” said Col. Paul M. Bishop, EADS commander. “I can assure everyone that EADS will do everything in its power to assist Santa with his critical mission.” The NORAD Tracks Santa website, launched Dec. 1 and features Santa’s North Pole Village, a holiday countdown, games, a movie theater, holiday music, and more. The website is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Chinese. The official NORAD Tracks Santa app is also in the Apple App and Google Play stores, so parents and children can count down the days until Santa’s launch on their smartphones and tablets. Tracking opportunities are also offered through social media on Facebook, Twitter YouTube and Instagram, and on partner platforms Bing, Amazon Alexa and OnStar. Starting at 4 a.m. EST Dec. 24, website visitors can see updates as Santa prepares for his flight. At 6 a.m. EST, children and parents can call to inquire about Santa by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723). Due to COVID concerns, the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center will have fewer phone operators. Callers who do not reach a volunteer will hear a regularly updated recording about Santa’s current location. Anytime Dec. 24, Amazon Alexa users can ask for Santa’s location through the NORAD Tracks Santa skill for Amazon Alexa. OnStar subscribers can press the OnStar button in their vehicles to locate Santa. Santa Trackers can also use the Bing search engine to learn of Santa’s location. Tracking Santa has been a tradition since 1955 when a local newspaper advertisement informed children they could call Santa directly – only the wrong contact number was printed. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone rang through to the crew commander on duty, U.S. Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, at the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center, the predecessor to NORAD. Shoup was quick to realize a mistake had been made and assured the child he was Santa. Shoup then assigned a duty officer to continue answering calls. Thus, a holiday tradition was born. Each year since NORAD has reported Santa’s location on Dec. 24 to millions of children and families around the world. A bi-national Canadian and American command, NORAD’s top priority is the defense of North America. NORAD employs a network of space-based, aerial and ground-based sensors, air-to-air refueling tankers and fighter aircraft on alert, controlled by a sophisticated command and control network to detect, deter, and defend against aerial threats that originate outside or within North American airspace. EADS is located at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome, New York, and is part of the Continental U.S. NORAD Region-1st Air Force at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Responsible for the air defense of the eastern United States, EADS is composed of the New York Air National Guard’s 224th Air Defense Group, a Canadian Forces detachment, U.S. Army and Navy liaison officers, federal civilians and contractors. EADS also has two detachments in the National Capital Region.
 SHARE
 PRINT
  New York Air National Guard
 NORAD
 Santa Claus
 
 New York’s 109th Airlift Wing Begins 2024 Greenland Missions
 By Tech. Sgt. Madison Scaringe,
  New York Air National Guard Members Help Track Santa Claus
 By Patrick Young,
  New York National Guard Airmen Ready to Track Santa Claus
 By Timothy Jones,
  More
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 6 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 7 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 National Guard, US Army North, FEMA Train for Hurricane Response Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (195)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil