Santa wasn't the only familiar face in the crowd. (Zac Gooch/KTUU-TV)
Posted on 12/08/2008 3:49:46 AM PST by ebiskit
KIVALINA, Alaska -- It's Alaska so of course we sometimes do things a little differently -- including Santa Claus, who this weekend used a special sleigh to reach children in the farthest reaches of our state.
Of course, at 80 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Kivalina is closer to Santa's neighborhood than a lot of communities.
Still, anytime the big guy makes an appearance it's news -- especially among the children.
On Saturday Santa arrived here with a little help from the Alaska National Guard's "Operation Santa Claus," and everyone wanted to see the Christmas magic for themselves.
"Ever since they heard Santa was coming they ask, ‘Is he the real one from North Pole?'" Kivalina resident Becky Norton said. "I say, ‘We'll have to go there and check.'"
Santa's elves -- otherwise known as Guardsmen -- served up ice cream to go along with a full meal.
And once the tummies are full -- just like Santa likes them -- the village celebrated a night full of surprises as Gov. Sarah Palin made a surprise visit before the real guest of honor arrived.
Before you knew it, his jolly grin spread the Christmas spirit across the room.
This is something never before seen in Kivalina. Many are intrigued, others don't seem interested, but everyone is grateful -- because this is a village that could use a little hope.
"It's got some issues with the sea wall erosion and water and sewer problems and we've been focused on working with Kivalina on a lot of the community issues," Lt. Gen. Craig Campbell with the Alaska National Guard said.
Operation Santa Claus has a dual benefit as the Guard says uses it as a training event for taking off and landing C-130s on short airstrips.
With the help of donors, Operation Santa Claus visited eight other villages this year.
Contact Leyla Santiago at lsantiago@ktuu.com
Don’t you just love that little snark. Others just don’t seem interested.
ping to GG
Don’t you just love that little snark. Others just don’t seem interested.
Ya gotta love her.
My wife says she should let the wink and cute isms go. I agree. But she is starting out right building political capital as in Georgia. Now she needs to bone up on foreign events, do some traveling on state trade missions to Europe and Asia. Host trade missions from Europe and Asia, and in the process meet foreign leaders. She’ll wow’m
Frankly, I see no reason for our politicians to be leaving town on ‘trade’ missions or any other ‘missions’.
There is work to be done in state.
Santa wasn't the only familiar face in the crowd. (Zac Gooch/KTUU-TV)
What a nicve story!! In the video, the ones who didn’t seem interested was a baby asleep in Mom’s arms. It was nicely done.
This IS work and it's called getting to know the real people like only Sarah does. Go 'Cuda, you betcha! Do it again, again and again.
Of course, gotta have the negativism..
A nice story, Governor Palin does a good job of representing her State to the rest of America.
sorry - SAra is the current Govenor taking a photo op.
Operation Santa started in 1956. Flying a C123J (Wow!) out to the St MAry’s Mission, hit by spring floods (no fish) and a drought (no hunting). The trip was to deliver food to prevent starving - but the Guardsmen rehabbed some older toys - and picked a few new ones and a tradition was born.
Once again, the “evil pig military” of the US showing more heart than can be described.
SAra is just a straphanger on this one folks...
For more see
http://www.ak-prepared.com/dmva/Press_Releases/2008/08_october/Operation%20Santa%20Claus%2008.pdf
http://www.ngb.army.mil/news/archives/2006/11/110306-AK_OSC.aspx
http://www.af.mil/photos/media_search.asp?page=2&q=claus for photos from last years sleigh ride!
Ooorah - go Blue.
Gov. Palin is commander of her state’s Guard. If she wants to hitch a ride on one of the community outreach missions with her troops, good for her. She seems to take more interest in what the Alaska Guard does and how it does it than most governors.
When Katrina hit Lousiana, Jindal’s predecessor didn’t even know that her state had a Guard, much less how to deploy it.
She's a class act.
Speaking of her as a gift to the nation -- just yesterday I was emailing a friend of mine the Youtube video of her interview with Mark Levin. In the interview, when Mark asked her about the sort of liberal judges Obama would appoint, she said that "some would want to rewrite the founding document of our nation, the Constitution, to accomplish their goals -- wanting to remove the ancient landmarks that have allowed our country to be the greatest country on earth."
I remember thinking that her use of "ancient landmarks" was an interesting turn of phrase, but I never gave it a second thought until I noticed this comment that someone using the name of "mortsey" posted under this Youtube video:
Great comment, "Remove not the ancient land marks"... My father used to quote this verse out of book of Proverbs in the Bible to me when I was a kid... I never heard it applied to the Constitution, but it really takes on new meaning when you talk about judges who legislate from the bench and these liberals from the Democrat party. I will be watching your career for great things in the future Gov. Palin.
"Remove not the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set." (Proverbs 22:28) -- very good words to apply to our efforts to defend the Constitution. I like this lady more and more.
“SAra is just a straphanger on this one folks...”
So I take it your not a fan, eh?. . .
She still took the time out to show support and bring more to the cause, but I guess that little fact is lost on you.
A little photo-op can go a long way when times are supposedly tough.
I guess she needs to get back to Alaska and go back to work for the little people, eh? . . . blah, blah, blah. . .
btw, Thank You for your service.
tahDeetz
Palin went with Santa through Operation Santa Claus (through the Alaska National guard) and visited the village of Kivalina, 80 miles north of the Arctic Circle! It sounded like a sweet event (with Ice cream, which sounds weird but I guess you don't have to have in a freezer outside is nice) and very telling of the woman Palin is.
Gee, I didn’t notice your like wise post on President Bush’s trip to Iraq on Thanksgiving.
Was he just a “straphanger”, too?
You’d be surprised how much State business can be accomplished in another State, or Country, for that matter.
Perhaps you should run against her and show us all how it’s done. You know, afterall, she only has an 80% approval rating and all.
As for me, I’ve been writing emails to my representatives asking to help pave the way for Gov. Palin’s pipeline project and for help on drilling ANWAR.
She has an 80% approval rating. Doesn’t that tell you they like her at home doing the state’s business and not taking junkets around the world.
You mock your own argument.
You’re certainly welcome to read whatever you like into her approval ratings. Her ratings simply say that 80% of her constituents are happy with her performance. Nothing more, nothing less.
Is it still 80%? On election day Fox News said it was high 50’s. But then again with Fox news lately there is a 90% chance that was bull.
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