In just three days children everywhere will be turning to NORAD to track Santa’s flight around our great big world. Because, after all, knowing exactly when to put out cookies and milk is super important. Warm milk and stale cookies are crappy. The big guy and his team of furry friends deserve better than that.
NORAD’s mission is summed up simply as, “We have the Watch.” And, that they do.
NORAD’S MISSION
“We have the watch.”
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a United States and Canada bi-national organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning for North America. Aerospace warning includes the monitoring of man-made objects in space, and the detection, validation, and warning of attack against North America whether by aircraft, missiles, or space vehicles, through mutual support arrangements with other commands.
However, on December 24th, they take on an even more important task. That of tracking Santa. And…they take it quiet seriously. Their tracking system is no joke. It consists of a radar comprised of 47 installations, satellites, SantaCams, and Fighter Jets!
It did, however, all start as a joke.
The tradition began in 1955 after a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement misprinted the telephone number for children to call Santa. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief’s operations “hotline.” The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born.
NPR told the story through the eyes of “Santa Colonel’s” children earlier this week. It is truly quite wonderful. Warm fuzzies, for sure. Check it out with the link below. And then, don’t dare forget, to also check out the Official NORAD Santa Tracking Site.
NORAD’s Santa Tracker Began With A Typo And A Good Sport
The Official NORAD Santa Tracker
Good Morning Gloucester 