NORAD prepares annual Santa Tracker for Christmas weekend

Coastal: How do you, and the presents, fit down the chimney?

“When we hit September and October the media section gets involved with prepping the press release we send and as soon as that is out we start receiving all kinds of requests for phone interviews and radio and TV people booking live interviews for December 24”.

According to BPS/BECC Parent-Teacher Organization vice president Melissa Austin, the opportunity to have Santa visit the campuses during his busiest time of the year was made possible by a connection to the organization.

How do you manage to get all the right gifts to all the right people on Christmas Eve? Mind you I had never portrayed Santa before… that was my calling. This year, he was able to stop by the Tri-State area and give a little bit of insight to his life at the North Pole.

Santa confessed that his elves are much more than toymakers, and are more like NSA agents than cute little sprites.

“When I was given the opportunity to tell the story of NORAD Tracks Santa, I couldn’t have been happier and I am proud to have the chance to help carry on the tradition of the last 60 years”, he said.

I have always had a love for children, I am a retired Special Agent Supervisor with the Cal. DOJ, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.

What’s your favorite Christmas Eve snack?

Ninety-two years ago, Francis Church of The New York Sun wrote an editorial as a reply to a letter from an 8 year old girl, Virginia O’Hanion, who had asked whether there was a Santa Claus, since some of her friends had told her there was not. These websites also have some other fun activities. He’s driving, you know.

I want a present, a blue present.

“Finding a way to get a Santa for a few hours is a hard task”, said Austin.

Or the fact that every time I hear “Away in a Manger” I become a blubbering idiot. Unlike Traditional Reservists, who drill on a monthly basis, IMAs work with their active-duty units to create a custom work schedule. For once, I won’t get overly sentimental, I absolutely will not invite the ghosts of Christmas past in and I won’t get weepy no matter what because, after all, there’s no crying at Christmas, by golly. Why does that happen? They still have new pyjamas, though we are more likely to go out on Christmas Eve, share a meal together, part company for the evening and regroup on Christmas day. How can you be everywhere? He looked at me and said calmly, “What?” “I employ helpers to represent me”. They can even chat via email!

What is your hope for this Christmas?