Quick Order  

  My Account  

Explorer

Stores

The Flying Santa of the Lighthouses is a tradition that has continued since Bill Wicapaw first began them in 1927. The Flying Santa of the Lighthouses dropped Christmas presents to the families of lighthouse keepers in remote locations until automation replaced the keepers. The tradition was kept alive and continues to this day, however Santa now brings presents to Coast Guard children who live by Coast Guard bases that had lighthouses.

The Friends of the Flying Santa today operates as a non-profit group obtaining most of its funds from fund-raising events. However, this year, after the attack on America, the organization was forced to cancel its biggest fund raising cruise, which was scheduled to be held on Columbus Day. This has left the group with a major shortfall of funds.

This year it becomes vital that New England’s own Flying Santa to continue the annual Christmas flights to visit the Coast Guard personnel, so many of whom have been recalled to active duty to serve our country. Many will not be able to spend their holidays with loved ones as they had planned before the terrorists attack.

The Flying Santa would like to male this year’s visit by him is better than ever for all the Coast Guard personnel and families and support personnel, many of whom will be looking forward to Santa’s visit. The Flying Santa has received special permission from the United States Coast Guard and the FAA to fly to 33 lighthouses and Coast Guard stations in six New England states. The Flying Santa expects along with the traditional lighthouse gift box to hand deliver a personal small gift to nearly 1000 children.

Donations can be sent to:

Friends of the Flying Santa

P.O. Box 791

Hull, MA 02045-0791.

For more information visit Santa’s web site at

www.flyingsanta.com

This story appeared in the December 2001 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

All contents copyright © 1995 - 2006 by Lighthouse Digest®, Inc. No story, photograph, or any other item on this website may be reprinted or reproduced without the express permission of Lighthouse Digest. For contact information, click here.