Vandenberg continues 53 year holiday tradition

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Erica Picariello
  • 30th Space Wing Public Affairs
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) --  While some families were busy with the normal holiday hustle and bustle that can come with the beginning of December, hundreds of Vandenberg Airmen were checking backpacks, schedules and presents to ensure local, underprivileged children were afforded a traditional holiday experience.

The 53rd annual Operation Kids' Christmas event was underway Dec. 1, with many Airmen arriving before sunrise to confirm details before 200 children descended on the base's Pacific Coast Club.

"More than 650 Vandenberg Airmen, Department of Defense civilians and contractors arrived as early as 5 a.m. to begin all preparation and coordination that goes into making an awesome holiday party for hundreds of kids," said Capt. Ross Wetmore, OKC chairman and 381st Training Group Airman. "The planning for this event began in February in order to ensure these kids had the best experience we could provide."

The volunteers put together new backpacks, several present and a Christmas dinner for the children and their families.

"Each child received a backpack filled with tiny toys, like bouncy-balls, coloring books and crayons and a Christmas dinner consisting of a ham, canned yams, potatos, butter, stuffing ... all the typical fixings," Wetmore said. "We also had a 'Santa' here who gave the children three bigger, gender-specific toys."

While this event revolves around the children, it held a great significance for some of the adults in attendance as well.

Sharon McGinnis and Shelley Watkins, daughters of the late Michael Petlanksy, otherwise known as Pepi the Clown, who founded OKC in 1959, donned Santa hats and were in the receiving line to welcome the kids as they entered the PCC. This was the first OKC since their father passed away earlier this year.

"Continuing this event is important because it's about letting these kids know we care about them," Watkins said. "What we do here can really change a life."

According to Watkins, Abel Maldonado, the 48th Lieutenant Governor of California, came through OKC as a child and spoke of the good things it did for him and his family.

"Abel Maldonado was so touched by what the event did for him as a child that he proclaimed a day, 'Pepi the Clown day' in honor of my dad," Watkins said. "It makes me feel so great to see my dad's legacy continuing. This was his greatest accomplishment."

The founder's daughters also said that everybody, not just the kids, walks away with something after OKC and some Vandenberg volunteers agree.

"After seeing the smiles on the kids' faces you know that they feel loved," said Tech. Sgt. Jessica Styles, Vandenberg Airman and OKC escort. "As a mom, its wonderful to give back to kids that are less fortunate and show that they're never alone during the holidays."