Alaska Army National Guard members transfer boxes of

Alaska Army National Guard members transfer boxes of gifts onto a C-12 Huron aircraft Nov. 30, which will deliver the gifts to rural Alaskan communities for Operation Santa Claus 2020. Operation Santa Claus is an Alaska National Guard annual community outreach program that provides Christmas gifts, books, school supplies and stocking stuffers to children in rural Alaskan communities. This year marks the 65th year of the program, which began in 1956 after the village of St. Mary's experienced a year of hardship and the Alaska Air National Guard flew in gifts and supplies donated by the local community. The Alaska National Guard was able to continue the tradition this year and safely provide gifts despite COVID-19. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Dana Rosso/Released).