Sgt. Craig Lyons, crewchief, Alaska Army National Guard, B Company, 2-211 General Suppor Aviation Battalion, helps unload two hundred sixety-one gift packagesfrom a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Buckland, Alaska during Operation Santa Claus, Dec. 14, 2021. Operation Santa Claus is an Alaska National Guard annual community outreach program that provides Christmas gifts, books, school supplies and stocking stuffers to children in rural Alaskan communities. This year marks the 66th year of the program, which began in 1956 after the village of St. Mary's experienced a year of hardship and the Alaska Air National Guard flew in gifts and supplies donated by the local community. The Alaska National Guard was able to continue the tradition this year and safely provide gifts despite COVID-19. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Chelsea Aspelund)
211214-Z-IG207-1016.JPG Photo By: Maj. Chelsea Aspelund

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Sgt. Craig Lyons, crewchief, Alaska Army National Guard, B Company, 2-211 General Suppor Aviation Battalion, helps unload two hundred sixety-one gift packagesfrom a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Buckland, Alaska during Operation Santa Claus, Dec. 14, 2021. Operation Santa Claus is an Alaska National Guard annual community outreach program that provides Christmas gifts, books, school supplies and stocking stuffers to children in rural Alaskan communities. This year marks the 66th year of the program, which began in 1956 after the village of St. Mary's experienced a year of hardship and the Alaska Air National Guard flew in gifts and supplies donated by the local community. The Alaska National Guard was able to continue the tradition this year and safely provide gifts despite COVID-19. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Chelsea Aspelund)


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