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80 NORAD Tracks Santa’s ‘X’Mas Flight

NORAD

Tracks Santa

North American Aerospace Defense
Command

On Dec. 24, 1955, a call was made to the
Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD)
Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
However, this call was not from the president or
a general. It was from a young child in Colorado
Springs who was following the directions in an
advertisement printed in the local paper – the
youngster wanted to know the whereabouts of
Santa Claus.
The ad said “Hey, Kiddies! Call me
direct and be sure and dial the correct number.”
However, the number was printed incorrectly in Santa? Most likely not, unless you have Frank Hitchcock authorized local Postmasters to
the advertisement and rang into the CONAD absolutely zero holiday spirit or heart for that allow postal employees and citizens to respond
operations center. matter. to the ever growing number of letters received
On duty that night was Colonel Harry Parents stamp and mail these letters for every holiday season.
Shoup, who has come to be known as the “Santa their children to keep the tradition going. They In the 1940s, mail volume for Santa
Colonel.” Colonel Shoup received numerous are a window into the very essence of Christmas increased so much so that the Postal Service
calls that night and rather than hanging up, he make believe, often requiring the suspension of extended the same invitation to charitable
had his operators find the location of Santa disbelief we all wistfully remember so well from organizations, community groups and
Claus and reported it to every child who phoned our childhood. corporations to help respond to children who
in that night. But where do all these letters go? What wrote letters to Santa.
Thus began a tradition carried on by the happens to them? Surely USPS has to have some
North American Aerospace Defense Command sort of strategic game plan to tackle the shear 106th Anniversary
(NORAD) when it was formed in 1958. Today, volume of Santa letters that come in every year?
through satellite systems, high-powered radars This year, 2016, the Postal Service is celebrating
and jet fighters, NORAD tracks Santa Claus as Where do letters to Santa go? the 104th anniversary of the Operation Santa
he makes his Yuletide journey around the world. Program as it continues to fulfill the dreams of
Every year on December 24, fifteen Not all letters addressed to Santa end up at the children nationwide. More than one hundred
hundred volunteers staff telephones and North Pole. Some go to the U.S. Post Office, years later, postal employees, volunteers and
computers to answer calls and e-mails from where thousands of elves can adopt letters and organizations remain committed to making
children (and adults) from around the world. make a child's wish come true! children’s Christmas wishes come true.
Live updates are provided through the NORAD Letters from Santa program
Tracks Santa Web site (in seven languages), over The Post Office "Letters to Santa" What They Do
telephone lines, and by e-mail to keep curious Program is now in its 100th year. Postal
children and their families informed about employees go through the hundreds of The Postal Service has Operation Santa sites in
Santa’s whereabouts and if it’s time to get to thousands of letters addressed to "Santa Claus, action around the country. In the vast number of
bed. North Pole, Alaska" to separate out those that locations postal employees respond to the letters
Each year, the NORAD Tracks Santa express serious need. by providing a written response signed by Santa,
Web Site receives nearly nine million unique One 13-year-old boy who sent a "Dear while other Post Offices may work with local
visitors from more than 200 countries and Santa" letter to the U.S. Post Office this year schools, municipalities and community groups
territories around the world. Volunteers receive asked only for covers for his bed, "so I can stay who volunteer for the joyous task.
more than 140,000 calls to the NORAD Tracks warm this winter." Each year, however, in select Post
Santa hotline from children around the globe. Another letter from a 12-year-old wanted Offices the general public is invited to “adopt”
This year, children and the young-at- nothing for himself, just something for his single Santa letters. In all locations where the public
heart are able to track Santa through Facebook, mother, because she worked so hard. may adopt letters written to Santa, strict privacy
Twitter and YouTube. To follow us on any of Some of the letters are answered by guidelines are in place. Any member of the
these Web sites, type in @noradsanta into the charitable groups, businesses, schools, postal public choosing to adopt a letter may simply
search engine and start tracking. employees and individual anonymous givers, respond in writing or if they choose grant the
NORAD Tracks Santa has become a who can come to participating branches, pick wish, a decision that is left to the individual.
magical and global phenomenon, delighting letters and go shopping. New York City’s Operation Santa serves
generations of families everywhere. In some states, USPS now has Santa as the largest public adoption Post Office in the
For more information about NORAD reply to most of your children's letters! Parents country. A “Big Apple” tradition that has
Tracks Santa, please visit www.noradsanta.org are asked to complete the "North Pole changed very little since the 1940s and one
For more information about NORAD, Postmark," and the Letters from Santa Program which continues to thrive in the heart of the
please visit www.norad.mil responds to the youngsters. Manhattan, much to the delight of those who
visit the iconic James A. Farley building.[]
Where Do All The Letters USPS SANTA MAIL:

To Santa Go? Operation Santa

Every year kids from all across the world write Background
letters to Santa and they're usually addressed to
"The North Pole." A location that is un- As much as history reveals, the Postal Service
deliverable and sure to be "Returned to Sender" began receiving letters to Santa Claus more than
under any normal circumstance. However, has 100 years ago. However, it's involvement was
anyone gotten a letter sent back addressed to made official when in 1912 Postmaster General