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NORAD To Track Santa Despite Shutdown 75

NORAD Santa tracker

will still run despite

government shutdown

Associated Press

The government may be partially shut down, but
that won't stop hundreds of volunteers dressed in
Christmas hats and military uniforms Monday
from taking calls from children around the world
who want to know when Santa will be coming.

The military says the NORAD Tracks Santa
won't be affected by the government shutdown
because it is run by volunteers Peterson Air
Force Base in Colorado and is funded by the
Department of Defense's budget that was
approved earlier this year.

the phone rooms.
Now in its 63rd year, the Santa tracker became a Angels & Words of
Christmas Eve tradition after a mistaken phone
"It really gets you into the Christmas spirit," said
call to the Continental Air Defense Command in Inspiration for the
Hill, a student at Mississippi State University
Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1955. CONAD,
who got involved through Air Force family Christmas Season and
as it was known, had the serious job of
members stationed in Colorado Springs.
monitoring a far-flung radar network for any New Year.
sign of a nuclear attack on the United States.
"There are Christmas carols in the background,
everyone's very friendly, happy to be there," she “Miracles come in moments. Be ready and
When Col. Harry Shoup picked up the phone
said. willing.”
that day, he found himself talking not to a
- Wayne Dyer
military general, but to a child who wanted to
One year, she took a call from a boy who began
speak to Santa Claus. A Colorado Springs
reading a very long Christmas list. "I remember “It only takes a thought and your angels will
newspaper had run an ad inviting kids to call
having to cut him off after the 10th present or be there... for although you may not see them,
Santa but mistakenly listed the hotline number.
so," she said, explaining to him that she had to you’re always in their care.”
take calls from other children. - Author Unknown
Shoup figured out what had happened and
played along. The tradition has since
A girl told Hill she wanted to warn Santa not to “Where thou art - that - is Home.”
mushroomed into an elaborate operation that
bump into a bell hanging on her door. "I think - Emily Dickinson
attracts tens of thousands of calls every year.
she wanted Santa to be quiet and not wake her
up," Hill said. “And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase
For the 1,500 civilian and military volunteers
our faith.’”
who will answer the phones for kids calling 1-
Sometimes the volunteers have to handle the - Luke 17:5
877-HI-NORAD, it infuses the holiday with
unexpected. In 2012, a child from Newtown,
childlike wonder.
Connecticut, asked if Santa could bring extra It is not known precisely where angels dwell
toys for families who lost children in the mass - whether in the air, the void, or the planets. It
"They're all really sweet, small voices," said
shooting that year at Sandy Hook Elementary. has not been God’s pleasure that we should
Madison Hill, a volunteer who helped answer
be informed of their abode.”
the phones in two previous years.
"If I can get ahold of him, I'll try to get the - Voltaire
message to him," replied the volunteer, Sara
"I had a little girl tell me good night instead of
Berghoff. We have two ears and one mouth so we can
goodbye," she said. "It's really sweet."
listen twice as much as we speak.”
NORAD's commander, Air Force Gen. Terrence - Epictetus
The North American Aerospace Defense
J. O'Shaughnessy, will also take a turn
Command — a joint U.S.-Canadian operation
answering the phones Monday. “We must not allow the clock and the
based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, that
calendar to blind us to the fact that each
protects the skies over both countries — has
"This is my first NORAD Tracks Santa," said moment of life is a miracle and mystery.”
taken over the Santa tracker since the tradition
O'Shaughnessy, who took command in May. - H. G. Wells
started. The military command center embraced
"I'm really excited."
and expanded the Santa-tracking mission and
“Truth is never by mere chance; it is the result
has been rewarded with a bounty of goodwill
O'Shaughnessy was even asked about the of forces working together.”
and good publicity.
program during a Senate Armed Services - James Cash Penney
Committee hearing in April to confirm him as
Last year, NORAD Tracks Santa drew 126,000
NORAD chief. “When we accept tough jobs as a challenge
phone calls, 18 million website hits, 1.8 million
and wade them into them with joy and
followers on Facebook and 179,000 more on
"I assume this committee can count on your enthusiasm, miracles can happen.”
Twitter.
commitment to continue that venerable - Harry S. Truman
tradition," Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom
It takes 160 phones to handle the calls that pour
Cotton deadpanned. “Better to light one small candle than to curse
in. New volunteers get a playbook that briefs
the darkness.”
them on the questions kids might ask. Big
"Yes sir, especially since my son Sam would - Chinese Proverb
screens on the walls show a Santa icon making
blistering progress around the globe. U.S. and want to see that as well," O'Shaughnessy
replied.[] Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Canadian officers do live TV interviews from