Our second Christmas season at Fort Liberty has been nothing short of magical. Santa sightings, plenty of holiday cheer, and the season isn’t even over yet.
Fort Liberty, the largest military post and home to the 82nd Airborne Division, knows just how to keep soldiers’ and families’ spirits bright. Santa’s elves are hard at work to ensure Fort Liberty families have a Christmas tree and a holiday meal, and that all of Fort Liberty’s children have gifts to wake up to on Christmas morning. That is, if they are on Santa’s nice list.
My family and I think Santa may have a soft spot for the 82nd because he sure hasn’t been hard to find. We got to see him twice in one week, two weeks in a row, right here on post!
He made quite an entrance at the annual holiday festival and concert, repelling from a building. Then he and Mrs. Claus spent some time visiting at the annual tree lighting. The following week my little ones spent some time having cookies with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Hampton Primary, then again at the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum, where they were sent home with some more wonderful memories, candy canes and a gift.
As we rush to complete our shopping lists, it’s important to remember the nice list isn’t just reserved for children anxiously awaiting every opportunity to land themselves on Santa’s lap and Christmas morning. For us adults, the nice list is more of a state of mind, and you can find yourself there when you can keep the true meaning of Christmas alive.
I had the opportunity to sit down with one individual who works hard to secure a spot on that nice list every year — one of Fort Liberty’s very own Santas, Ret. Brig. Gen. John Aarsen, director of the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum.
As we discussed Operation Santa Visit, one of his many engagements with the community, we also discussed the impact he and others in his position have had on the Fort Liberty community over the years. He talked about the feeling he gets each time he gets to spread and witness the holiday spirit here at Fort Liberty.
Operation Santa Visit has been a cherished event for the last 18 years, beginning as the museum’s way of giving back to soldiers and their families. “Being an Army family is hard, we want to make things easier, having things right here on post and not having to pay for a picture with Santa,” Aarsen said. But he doesn’t take the credit for making this event a reality, crediting Jimmie Hallis as the “workhorse and powerhouse behind this event.”
This event has allowed Aarsen to watch children grow from little ones participating in the event to adult volunteers providing the next generation’s children the same fond memories they once had. Operation Santa Visit can also be enjoyed by the public with post access simply by obtaining a visitor’s pass, spreading joy to a large number of families throughout the years. Aarsen explains the importance of Operation Santa Visit being enjoyed not only by the children, but by parents too — he often encourages soldiers to partake in the picture-taking as most families photograph only the children.
My family and I attended the event for the first time this year, and we plan to attend annually as long as we are stationed here at Fort Liberty.
Aarsen urges families to remember an important piece of information. The 82nd community is a great one to be a part of, but you have to get out into the community to see all it has to offer. “If you just stay at home, you won’t like it here.”
It’s Christmastime here at Fort Liberty, and it’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s not about how many presents are under the tree and as military families know, it can’t always be about going home for the holidays. It is about togetherness, happiness and spreading holiday joy. Happy holidays, Fort Liberty — get out there and enjoy all the community has to offer!
