Fort Bliss, TX –
On December 4, Families and children filled the NCO Leadership Center of Excellence (NCOLCoE) and the Sergeants Major Academy (SGM-A) campus as they joined one another in merrymaking to kick off the holiday season.
In the center of the courtyard stood a 20-foot evergreen tree decorated with red and silver ornaments, shimmering in the light of the setting sun. Children gathered close around the tree to help Command Sgt. Maj. Tammy Everette, Commandant of the NCOLCoE and the SGM-A push a button to bring the already stunning tree to life with its red and white lights shinning bright. The crowd cheered loudly at the beautiful sight of the tree topped with a Santa hat.
Throughout the night children were able to color holiday pictures and enjoy free hot chocolate loaded with marshmallows. Nala Simmonds, who was accompanied by her mom Sydnye, was excited for all the activities, but said she gives the snowman building station a rating of “infinity out of infinity!” Simmonds and her friend Sierra Teckenbrock also enjoyed catching bubbles produced by a machine and turned it into a game to see who could catch the most on their tongue. Other guest demonstrated creativity at a booth dedicated to making holiday ornaments or gathered at a station that encouraged kids to write letters to Santa and mention the top three things they want this Christmas.
Between the joy and laughter, sleigh bells could be heard approaching. All faces turned towards the night sky to try and catch a glimpse of Santa Clause and his reindeer in flight. Shouts of glee erupted as Santa along with Mrs. Clause and the elves, escorted by members of the United States Marine Corps walked down to greet the crowd. Children and their parents waited patiently to be able to meet with Santa, take pictures and ask for what they wish for most.
The Marine Corps tradition of donating Christmas toys dates back to 1947 when Maj. Bill Hendricks was asked by his wife, Diane, to distribute a few handcrafted dolls to an agency that supports children in need. When Mrs. Hendricks was told that he could not find any such organization, she told her husband to start one. Hendricks, a Marine Corps Reserve officer based in Los Angeles, Calif. along with his unit, collected and gave away 5,000 toys that year. In 1948, Toys for Tots became a nationwide program endorsed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
1st Sgt. John Trickler, a U.S. Marine and current student in the Sergeants Major Course kept the tradition alive by organizing a campus Toys for Tots drive to continue spreading joy to local Families this season. Trickler shared a personal story about why he is so passionate about collecting toys for underprivileged kids. He recalls one Christmas Eve “we had a tree that was a Charlie Brown tree with not much on it and we had nothing underneath it but the next day when Christmas came around, we saw Marines in dress blues walking off the porch. We did not know what that meant so we went downstairs, and my brother and I each had two toys.” Trickler still has the turtle plush he received that year when his mother reached out to Toys for Tots to help bring her boys a bit of holiday cheer. Trickler ended with a message to all, “do not give up hope and continue to work for what you want to believe in. If you still believe that there is a greater good in people, people will help, and you may have a mysterious Santa come to you overnight.”
Master Sgt. Kimberly Goode was the lead coordinator for the annual event. She volunteered to lead the committee because she loves the holidays, and it was a way for her to keep herself “engaged and in the spirit” since her Family is not currently in Texas while she attends the Sergeants Major Course. Goode’s favorite part of the evening was “the reaction when Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived!” After she and her team dedicated months towards planning and preparing for the big night she said, “if seeing a tree light up can make just one of my classmate’s smile, then we have been successful.”
Readers interested in more information on how to donate toys, become a volunteer or request gifts for their children with the Toys for Tots Foundation are encouraged to visit
https://www.toysfortots.org.