An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Dec. 22, 2020

New York National Guard supports NORAD Santa tracking

By Timothy Jones New York National Guard

ROME, N.Y. – Members of the New York Air National Guard and the Royal Canadian Air Force at the Eastern Air Defense Sector in Rome, New York, will be hard at work Christmas Eve as the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) tracks Santa Claus for the 65th consecutive year.

"We're delighted to support NORAD's Santa tracking operations again this year," said Col. Paul M. Bishop, EADS commander. "I can assure everyone that EADS will do everything in its power to assist Santa with his critical mission."

Due to safety concerns created by COVID-19, a limited number of volunteers will be allowed in the NORAD Tracks Santa command post at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. That means fewer phone operators to update Santa's travels. Callers who are unable to reach a live operator, however, will hear a constantly updated message on Santa's whereabouts.

The tracking operations start at 4 a.m. EST on Dec. 24 on the www.noradsanta.org website. At 6 a.m. EST, children and parents can call to inquire about Santa by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723).

Anytime on Dec. 24, Amazon Alexa users can ask for Santa's location through the NORAD Tracks Santa skill for Amazon Alexa, and OnStar subscribers can press the OnStar button in their vehicles to locate Santa.

The official NORAD Tracks Santa app has also been updated this year and is available in the Apple App and Google Play stores, enabling parents and children to follow on their smartphones and tablets. Tracking opportunities are also offered through social media on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Tracking Santa has been a tradition since 1955 when a local newspaper advertisement misprinted an "Ask Santa" call-in number. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone rang through to U.S. Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, the crew commander at the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center, the predecessor to NORAD. Shoup quickly realized a mistake had been made and assured the child he was Santa.

Shoup then assigned a duty officer to continue answering calls. Thus, a holiday tradition was born, which NORAD has carried on since 1958.

A bi-national Canadian and American command, NORAD's top priority is the defense of North America. NORAD employs a network of space-based, aerial and ground-based sensors, air-to-air refueling tankers and fighter aircraft on alert, controlled by a sophisticated command and control network to detect, deter, and defend against aerial threats that originate outside or within North American airspace.

EADS is located in Rome, New York, and is part of the Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR).

Responsible for the air defense of the eastern U.S., the organization is composed of the New York Air National Guard's 224th Air Defense Group, a Canadian Forces detachment, U.S. Army and Navy liaison officers, federal civilians and contractors. EADS also has two detachments in the National Capital Region.

 

 

Related Articles
An HH-60W Jolly Green II search and rescue helicopter assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing conducts a flyover during an HH-60W conversion ceremony at the 106th Rescue Wing at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, N.Y., Oct. 25, 2024. The ceremony celebrated the official conversion of the 106th from the HH-60G Pave Hawk search and rescue helicopter to the HH-60W Jolly Green II.
New York Air Guard Wing Welcomes New, High-Tech Helicopters
By Capt. Cheran Campbell, | Oct. 28, 2024
WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. - The New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing officially marked the arrival of its new HH-60W Jolly Green II search and rescue fleet during a ceremony Oct. 25 at Francis S. Gabreski Air...

An LC-130 Hercules aircraft from the 109th Airlift Wing sits at Summit Station, Greenland, May 9, 2024. Summit Station is ideal for studying long-range intercontinental transport and its effects on the ice sheet surface.
New York Air Guard Ends Greenland Science Support Season
By Jaclyn Lyons, | Sept. 12, 2024
STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. - The New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing wrapped up its 2024 support for National Science Foundation research in Greenland at the end of August.Throughout the season, which...

New York Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Myra Winnie belts out “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch of a New York Yankees game Aug. 10, 2024, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
New York Air Guard NCO Sings for Thousands at Yankee Stadium
By Eric Durr, | Aug. 27, 2024
NEW YORK - New York Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Mayra Winnie belted out “God Bless America” in front of 41,996 people.Winnie, the personal and development superintendent for the New York Air National Guard’s...