Guard helps deliver a 'Blue' Christmas to needy families

National Guard, Feb 2002 by Benner, Brenda

Texas

Eager children peer out of windows and doors, each hoping to catch the first glimpse of "Blue" Santa. To their surprise, they receive toys from Blue Santa's green-clad assistants. The helpers aren't exactly elves, but they are just as reliable and enthusiastic.

Every year Texas Army and Air National Guardsmen help the Austin Police Department bring holiday cheer to families in need. It's Operation Blue Santa, but with a hint of green.

Blue Santa, a moniker that refers to police officer blue, provides Christmas dinners and gifts for families needing help during the holidays.

"Without the Texas National Guard, this could never happen," said Margarine Beaman, a Blue Santa board member and longtime volunteer. "They take care of our building repairs, pick up the donations and are especially vital to our huge delivery day. Today we accomplished 3,640 deliveries."

Delivery day resembles a military deployment as rows of camouflaged trucks and Humvees convoy from Blue Santa headquarters. The military transportation to limit the number of police and fire vehicles pulled off the streets.

"When the kids see us coming, they shout `it's Blue Santa, it's Blue Santa'," said Sgt. Orvin Lee, of A Company, 449th Aviation Support Battalion. "I tell them, `Well, sort of.' You could think of us as 'Green' Santa too because of our uniforms."

Lee is one of several members of the aviation unit who volunteer for the program year after year. Another is Sgt. 1st Class Linda Varda, who said that the reactions they receive range from cheering children to teary-eyed mothers.

"Every time I do this, it reminds me that at some time almost everybody needs a little help," Varda said. "This is a way for me to share some of the good fortune and blessings that I've received when I've needed help."

-By Sgt. 1st Class Brenda Benner