The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the United States and Canada.
It’s a vital defense service for North America, but at this time of year, using its global surveillance technology, NORAD provides an extra service of a different kind for the benefit of the public—the NORAD Tracks Santa program.
The service began by accident in 1955 when a youngster called a “Santa” number printed in a local Colorado newspaper. The misprinted number connected the caller to the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center in Colorado Springs.
The commander on duty had the presence of mind to go along with the enquiry, and was able to pass on the whereabouts of Santa to the caller.
Thus began the tradition of tracking Santa, which has been carried on by NORAD since its formation in 1958.
This year, First Lady Michelle Obama has personally taken calls from young people interested in Santa’s progress. She assured them that NORAD is tracking Santa’s progress closely and that his journey was going well this Christmas Eve.
“Answering the excited calls from children across America wanting to know where Santa is tonight was a thrill for me this holiday,” said Mrs. Obama. “NORAD does an outstanding job tracking Santa’s journey around the world on Christmas Eve for children and I loved being a part of their holiday tradition.
“I received calls from some very excited kids tonight wanting to know where Santa is and when they could expect him at their house. I told them he would arrive once they went to sleep.”
At the time of writing, the NORAD database tells me that Santa has just delivered to the Falkland Islands, and is on his way to Argentina, but he moves so fast that I can’t possibly keep up with him.
I hope he gives you all you wish for, when you wake up on Christmas Day.
Don’t forget to leave something out for the reindeer.
