YAKUTAT, Alaska — This week, the traditional image of Santa Claus took a modern twist as he and Mrs. Claus traveled to southeast Alaska not in a sleigh, but in a C-17 military cargo plane accompanied by a camouflaged Humvee. Their mission was to deliver toys to the Tlingit village of Yakutat, situated northwest of Juneau. This event is part of Operation Santa Claus, a charitable outreach initiative by the Alaska National Guard aimed at assisting predominantly Indigenous communities throughout the state. Each year, the Guard selects a village that has recently faced difficulties, and Yakutat was chosen this time due to a significant snowfall in 2022 that posed a risk to local structures.
“Participating in this event is one of the highlights of our service, and it’s a proud day for the National Guard,” shared Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe, the adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, on Wednesday. Saxe donned a military uniform paired with a festive Santa hat that stretched the boundaries of typical dress code regulations.
The arrival of the Humvee elicited excitement as it rolled into the school parking lot, and the delighted shouts of children echoed in the frigid air—“It’s Santa! It’s Santa!”—as elementary students rushed outside to greet their special guests. Inside the school, Mrs. Claus delighted the kids by reading a Christmas story featuring the beloved reindeer, Dasher. The couple in red posed for photographs with nearly all 75 students present and distributed new backpacks filled with various gifts, books, tasty snacks, and school supplies donated by the Salvation Army. The local school provided lunch, and a nearby restaurant generously contributed ice cream and toppings for a delightful sundae bar for the children.
Ten-year-old Thomas Henry shared that although he found the backpack’s contents appealing, his favorite item was a plastic dinosaur. Meanwhile, 9-year-old Mackenzie Ross proudly displayed her new plush seal as she wandered through the school gym. “I think it’s special to be here today because I’ve never experienced anything like this before,” she expressed excitedly.
With a population of about 600 residents, Yakutat is a Tlingit village located in the lowlands along the Gulf of Alaska, near the scenic Hubbard Glacier, a popular destination for cruise ships.
Some members of the National Guard visiting Yakutat this Wednesday had previously been in the village during a severe snowstorm in January 2022 that dumped close to 6 feet of snow, causing significant damage to buildings. The origins of Operation Santa date back to 1956 when flooding hindered subsistence hunting for the residents of St. Mary’s, a western Alaska community. With finances stretched thin for food, the military stepped in to help ensure that families could still celebrate Christmas with presents.
This year’s initiative included visits to two other communities affected by flooding. A successful delivery was made to Circle in northeastern Alaska, while severe weather impeded a trip to Crooked Creek in the southwestern region. Fortunately, gifts were routed to that community on November 16, ensuring no child would be left empty-handed this Christmas.
“We aim to reach rural areas that are often quite isolated,” noted Jenni Ragland, service extension director for the Salvation Army’s Alaska Division. “Many of these children haven’t traveled to larger cities, where they can see Santa or shop at stores for Christmas gifts and trees. We bring the essence of the Christmas spirit directly to them.”
After the C-17 Globemaster III completed its delivery in Yakutat, it had to quickly return to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage as the village’s modest airport lacked sufficient parking spaces. Later, the plane returned to fetch Santa and Mrs. Claus along with their weary helpers, who were spotted catching some rest on the return flight.