I love this tradition! I actually called the hotline a few years ago on behalf of my little one, thinking I'd get the recorded message, and actually got a very nice live person, who informed me that Santa was, at that time, en route to India. Thanks for the reminder; this post was awesome!
On a whim one of my work friends FOIA'd NORAD for Santa Interception Missions 1990 - Present.
Of course, NORAD is a binational organization, which means it isn't subject. However, we did get a personalized response from the FOIA Officer declining to provide records but (s)he did tell us that USNORTHCOM has never intercepted Santa Claus, only escorted.
What a great piece on how tracking Santa began. I do seem to remember our local television station doing something about tracking, they were a CBC affilitate. I too grew up in a small town in the woods, but in Northwestern Ontario called Dorion, probably a colder and snowery winter, it is about 40 mile east of Thunder Bay. I am also familiar with Armstrong as my brother-in-law was posted there for a couple of years in the 1960s.
You can certainly spin a yarn, Gord. I had no idea the Santa Tracker or the joint military operation existed. Thanks for revealing such important news!
I love this tradition! I actually called the hotline a few years ago on behalf of my little one, thinking I'd get the recorded message, and actually got a very nice live person, who informed me that Santa was, at that time, en route to India. Thanks for the reminder; this post was awesome!
On a whim one of my work friends FOIA'd NORAD for Santa Interception Missions 1990 - Present.
Of course, NORAD is a binational organization, which means it isn't subject. However, we did get a personalized response from the FOIA Officer declining to provide records but (s)he did tell us that USNORTHCOM has never intercepted Santa Claus, only escorted.
Your Intel/anecdote is much appreciated, and I will send it along to Col. Ellis!
Merry Christmas, sir!
What a great piece on how tracking Santa began. I do seem to remember our local television station doing something about tracking, they were a CBC affilitate. I too grew up in a small town in the woods, but in Northwestern Ontario called Dorion, probably a colder and snowery winter, it is about 40 mile east of Thunder Bay. I am also familiar with Armstrong as my brother-in-law was posted there for a couple of years in the 1960s.
You can certainly spin a yarn, Gord. I had no idea the Santa Tracker or the joint military operation existed. Thanks for revealing such important news!
This is so fun!!