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    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        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
  News Features
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Alaska Guard brings Christmas gifts to children in villages By Lt. Col. Candis Olmstead
                Alaska National Guard
 JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska National Guard has a tradition of serving communities throughout Alaska during the holidays, delivering Christmas gifts and a variety of delights to children during Operation Santa Claus. In its 63rd year, two small Native villages along the Kuskokwim River in Western Alaska were selected for a visit this season. Santa and his elves visited Tuntutuliak Nov. 25 and Napakiak Dec. 3. Traveling in an Army National Guard C-12 Huron twin-engine turboprop aircraft from here to Bethel, then in an Army Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to access the small villages, which don’t have airfields to accommodate the C-12 landing. “I do love to travel with my reindeer,” said Santa Claus of North Pole. “But they are resting up for Christmas Eve, which gives me an amazing opportunity to fly with the National Guard,” he said. The Salvation Army worked together with the National Guard and other community organizations to coordinate Op Santa and ensure every child, infants through age 18, received a wrapped Christmas gift from Santa Claus. Ice cream sundaes were provided for everyone in the community, and all students received new backpacks with personal items and snacks. Volunteers also handed out beautiful hand-knit hats made with love from a group of volunteers who live in Florida. Everyone in the villages expressed gratitude and enthusiasm to their out-of-town guests, there to spread holiday cheer. “There’s a reason we’ve been doing this since 1956,” said Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard.“ It’s a great way to show the communities of Alaska that we care about them, and this is likely the first time some have had an opportunity to meet a Soldier or Airman.” After the helicopter arrived in each village, volunteers stepped out onto the frozen ground and into the back of a four-wheeler or pickup truck for a ride to the village school. There, they quickly unpacked boxes of gifts, organized items, and finished preparing for the arrival of students. Many adults from the villages attended the event, bringing infants, toddlers and elders to enjoy the festivities. “Op Santa began after St. Mary’s experienced a natural disaster and there was a lack of food from subsistence, so extra money could not be spent on gifts for the children,” said Saxe. “We’ve continued this outreach to serve those in remote areas, to hopefully bring the joy of the season, and to build relationships in the communities.” In 1956, the Air National Guard’s 144th Airlift Squadron delivered donated goods to the remote village of St. Mary’s in a C-123J Provider. Since then, Air Guard C-130s Hercules, HC-130 King, C-17 Globemaster III, HH-60 Pave Hawk; and Army Guard C-23 Sherpa, UH-60 Black Hawk, and C-12 Huron have transported Santa and Mrs. Claus, elves, gifts and other desirable items to thousands of children throughout rural Alaska to more than 90 villages. The last time that Op Santa was in Napakiak and Tuntutuliak was in 2000. Both villages have a population of about 350-400 people.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership State Partnership Program • yesterday
 Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School Overseas Operations • yesterday
 Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Guard Leaders Stress NCOs Role in State Partnership Program State Partnership Program • yesterday
 Massachusetts Guard Helps Host Crisis Leadership Seminar Guard News • 2 days ago
 2024 (33)  2023 (107)  2022 (121)  2021 (119)  2020 (203)  2019 (208)  2018 (165)  2017 (164)  2016 (109)  2015 (52)
 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