Guard brings Christmas to remote Alaska village

Source: AP-Excite

By MARK THIESSEN

KWETHLUK, Alaska (AP) - Christmas in Alaska came early this week to nearly 300 students attending school in the Yup'ik Eskimo village of Kwethluk.

Thanks to the volunteer program coordinated by the Alaska National Guard, Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted children in the western Alaska community and took pictures with them before helper elves handed out gifts.

"Santa and Mrs. Claus is not something that normally happens out there for them. It's commonplace for us here in Anchorage or the bigger towns to be able to go to the malls and see Santa," said Jo Katkus, the chairwoman of Operation Santa Claus, as she and 24 other volunteers waited early Wednesday morning at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to load a military C130 cargo plane for the 300 mile flight.

"For them, it's a real extra treat," she said.

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20131213/DAALC7V82.html

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It is so nice to see Santa visiting off the beaten path. I used to do Santa at malls and parties. It's been years. Once I retire (if the day ever comes) I might start doing Santa again.



This photo taken Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, in Kwethluk, Alaska, shows Alaina David, 2, crying while having her photo taken with Santa . The visit of Santa and Mrs. Claus is part of the Alaska National Guard's Operation Santa Claus, which visits several remote Alaska Native villages each year. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)




This photo taken Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, in Kwethluk, Alaska, shows 2-year-old Lucas Fisher crying while having a picture taken with Mrs. Claus. The visit is part of the Alaska National Guard's Operation Santa Claus, which visits several remote Alaska Native villages each year. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)