Operation Santa Claus Brings Holiday Joy to Alaska's Tlingit Village-Cherokee 411

In a heartwarming display of community support, Santa and Mrs. Claus recently arrived in Yakutat, a Tlingit village in southeast Alaska, not by sleigh but aboard a C-17 military cargo plane and a camouflaged Humvee. This special visit was part of the Alaska National Guard's Operation Santa Claus, an outreach initiative that has been bringing holiday cheer to Indigenous communities since 1956.

Yakutat, home to about 600 residents, was selected for this year's program due to the significant hardships it faced following a massive snowfall in 2022 that threatened local infrastructure. The arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus brought excitement and joy to the village's children. At the local school, Mrs. Claus read a Christmas story, and together, the festive duo distributed backpacks filled with gifts, books, snacks, and school supplies donated by the Salvation Army to approximately 75 students.

Operation Santa Claus began in 1956 when flooding severely impacted subsistence hunting in St. Mary's, Alaska, leaving residents with little for Christmas. The military stepped in to assist, and the program has since evolved into an annual tradition aimed at bringing holiday spirit to remote communities facing challenges. This year's efforts also included visits to other villages affected by flooding, ensuring that the joy of Christmas reached those in need.

The success of Operation Santa Claus highlights the importance of community, resilience, and the spirit of giving. As Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe of the Alaska National Guard noted, "This is one of the funnest things we get to do, and this is a proud moment for the National Guard."

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Source and Image Associated Press