Alaska Army National Guard Capt. Andrew Adams loads pallets of gifts onto an UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Dec. 13 at the Army Aviation Facility in Bethel, for further delivery to Chevak as part of Operation Santa Claus 2021. Op Santa 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 65th 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. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Grace Nechanicky).
211215-Z-PL215-1004.JPG Photo By: Spc. Grace Nechanicky

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Army National Guard Capt. Andrew Adams loads pallets of gifts onto an UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Dec. 13 at the Army Aviation Facility in Bethel, for further delivery to Chevak as part of Operation Santa Claus 2021. Op Santa 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 65th 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. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Grace Nechanicky).


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