Santa Jack and Mrs (Sharon) Claus has been working with Santa Ted and Mrs. (Anne) Claus Caldwell of Suffolk, Va. to set up a meeting with the American Red Cross and the Operational Forces Medical Liaison Office (OFMLO) at Portsmouth Naval Hospital.

Mission accomplished!!

We visited with the command and medical staffs and the various departments in the hospital. Sharon wore a Summer Mrs. Claus outfit and I, of course, wore my USMC Santa BDU’s. ‘Twas a bit warm, but nowhere nearly as warm as the reception! we received!

I want to tell you, it was impossible to walk more than ten feet without having our photos taken with Sailors, Marines, Civilians, Doctors, Nurses, Corpsmen, and, of course, Parents and Children. We were even invited to go into the Medical Records Office for photos of Santa reviewing a (mock) medical record. (Please note….all Santa America Santas are trained in HIPPA as part of their hospice/hospital volunteer training to respect patient privacy. This picture is of Santa with a mock record NOT a real medical file)

We had a 5 minute “pop-in” visit scheduled with executive staff that turned out to extend to the better part of an hour. During our visit, Sharon, Santa Ted, Anne and I were able to present the Santa America Military Support Program much in the manner that I included in the June Santa America blog. We explained (to their delight) that our program is 365 day/year around in support of our Wounded Warriors and their families.

We then went to the ward for Wounded Warriors and visited a newly arrived Marine.

LCpl. Brian Prendergast had just arrived from Afghanistan earlier in the day and was undergoing “in-processing.” In addition, we visited with nearly a dozen Marines who were recovering and undergoing rehabilitation. When Sharon and I walked into the room, you should have seen the smiles and grins!! Being US Marines , they called me to attention, inspected me thoroughly and then pronounced that the USMC obviously had their own Santa!! “Santa is now proudly 100% US Marine Corp “Gung Ho! Ho! Ho!”

Please recognize as Santa America volunteers and supporters how very important it is to have the opportunity to meet on-site with the staff in charge of the Wounded Warrior/Safe Harbor and the Family Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (FMWR) programs at the various garrisons/stations/bases around the U.S. It is so much more effective than email and phone contacts, as it gives the command and medical staffs the opportunity to learn about our program and to see Santa and Mrs. Claus as they visit and interact with the troops, families and staff.

We look forward to serving our very special military and their families at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in 2010 and beyond. Semper Fi!! And Gung Ho! Ho! H0!