NORAD the North American Air Defense Command tracks Santa on radar in an annual public relations program that follows the jolly old elf on his way from the North Pole to visit every child in the world on Christmas Eve. The command center starts tracking the sleigh position every Christmas Eve at midnight. The tradition actually began in 1955 from a mistake in a newspaper that turned into a yearly tradition. There are several versions of this story. This is the one I will share with you today.
In December 1955 the local Sears store in Colorado Springs, Colorado placed an advertisement in the local “The Gazette” newspaper. The store had arranged to have a telephone with Santa who would answer questions from children calling in. The program seemed ready for eager children to call in. It turns out the the phone number that was published in the newspaper was off by one digit. When children called, instead of reaching Santa that Sears had arranged for, the call went to the Continental Air Defense Command that would be later be called NORAD. It was when Colonel Harry Shoup got the first call, that he realized that something had gone wrong. He tried to correct the first child, but then decided to play along anyway. He told his crew to give all the children who called in a location of Santa and his sleigh. (Wikipedia, NORAD Tracks Santa) One of the Shoup staff placed a picture of Santa on a board used to track unidentified aircraft. The Colonel got the idea of a public relations opportunity. He asked his public affairs officer Colonel Barney Oldfield to inform the press that Santa was being tracked by radar. He sent out a special notice that CONAD, Army, Navy and Marine Air Forces would continue to track and guard Santa on his journey to and from the United States against those who do not believe in Christmas. The public loved it.
The next year the Associated Press and United Press International called in wanting to know Santa’s location again. With that, it became a yearly event.
The tradition continues today as NORAD radar tracks the path of Santa Claus with his sleigh full of toys as he delivers them to good boys and girls all over the world. It is surprising that good will can come from anywhere, even the U.S. Military. May the Spirit of Christmas, with hope and joy, be with you this Holiday Season.