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Season of giving extends throughout the year

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Nicole Langley
  • 821st Air Base Group Public Affairs
THULE AIR BASE, Greenland (AFPN) --  While the holiday season is typically considered a season of giving, for the men and women at Thule Air Base, Greenland, this season of giving extends throughout the entire year.

Serving at the DOD's northernmost installation in the world -- not far from the North Pole and Santa Claus himself -- the members of Team Thule, who are separated from their own families and loved ones, focus on supporting Operation Julemand, an ongoing charity drive that raises money to purchase Christmas gifts for native Inuit children.

"Operation Julemand is a local humanitarian mission organized and supported by Team Thule personnel to purchase and give Christmas gifts to Greenlandic children in four local villages," said Chaplain (Capt.) Martin Adamson, 821st Air Base Group chaplain and president of the Operation Julemand Foundation, the private organization that coordinates the operation. "Money raised also supports Armed Forces Day celebrations and gifts for elderly and youth service organizations throughout the year."

Operation Julemand began as Operation Santa Claus in 1959, when it was first organized by Capt. John McTamney and Airman 1st Class Delbert Cox.

Captain McTamney summed up his motivation for creating the operation by stating, "As long as we cannot be home with our own children, let's bring a little happiness to the children of the area."

That first year, $778.33 was collected to buy Christmas gifts for 209 Greenlandic and 25 Danish children living in the area.

Although, the name was later changed to Operation Julemand -- the Danish word for Santa Claus -- the giving continues, although on a slightly larger scale. The amount raised for 2007 was approximately $22,000 and $10,000 has already been raised for 2008.

"Team Thule can take great pride in knowing Operation Julemand is the largest fundraising effort in the northern part of Greenland," said Col. Lee-Volker Cox, 821st Air Base Group commander. "It demonstrates to the Greenlanders that America and Americans are their friends and we care. We may be at the top of the world, but we are not alone."

Team Thule raises money for the operation a number of ways, including annual events such as the Julemand Festival, a coat check at the First Night and First Light celebrations, and coin drop boxes at the base exchange.

However, if people have creative, fun ideas for fundraising for Operation Julemand, we support those as well, said Chaplain Adamson.

This year, extra fundraising events included the Thule Biggest Loser Contest and a Texas Hold'em Tournament, where all entry fees for both events went directly to the Operation Julemand fund.

"When you see an Operation Julemand event, it's obvious our entire multi-national Thule family -- Americans, Danes, Greenlanders and Canadians -- is involved," said Colonel Cox. "It's heartwarming and an indication of the quality of our team to see everyone come together to help the local children and elderly. When you live in a location as remote as Thule, we need to take care of our people not only on the base, but also the surrounding areas.

Each year, the festival can be counted on as an entertaining day for Team Thule, as well as the biggest fundraising event of the year. This year's festival, held Nov. 17, began with an athletic competition at the fitness and sports center, and then moved on to the community center where attendees enjoyed an afternoon and evening of fair-style activities.

Highlights from this year's festival included a pie-in-the-face event, head and eyebrow shaving, a 'Thule Idol' singing contest, jail and bail, auction and booths with various items for sale, including jewelry, Christmas ornaments and traditional Danish refreshments.

During the one-day festival, more than $7,000 was raised.

"I am amazed at how much was donated for the festival, said the chaplain. "It far surpassed any expectation or hope I had, but when it is for a good cause and is fun, people want to give."

The money raised each year is used to purchase gifts for the following year, and the 280 gifts purchased for this year's distribution were wrapped at the community center near the beginning of the holiday season.

Once the gifts are wrapped and tagged with the names of individual children, the Danish liaison office, a key player in each year's operation because of the continuity they're able to provide, makes the arrangements with Air Greenland to have the gifts flown to the villages.

"What we do is not much, but in a small way it shows the great generosity of Americans and the Danish people," said the chaplain. "Ultimately, it brings a smile to the faces of children who live simple lives. I am a believer in simplicity, but one toy for a child can really bring a season of joy."

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