Last modified Wed., December 12, 2007 - 05:48 PM
Originally created Thursday, December 13, 2007

NAS Jax families enjoy tree-lighting festivities

By Kaylee LaRocque, Editor

Members of Navy Band Southeast play some Christmas music for the crowd at this year's tree lighting event Dec. 7 at Patriot's Grove. Photos by Kaylee LaRocque

Hundreds of active duty members, their families and friends spent Friday evening enjoying the 13th annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremonies and festivities at Patriot's Grove. The NAS Jax Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Department coordinates the event each year. The event was sponsored by VyStar Credit Union and Coca-Cola.

As the anxious children excitedly waited for Santa Claus and his Merry Elves to arrive on the NAS Jax Fire Department's ladder truck, parents kept a vigilant watch on their young ones. "I plan to ask Santa for a Polly Pocket on Ice (a doll) for Christmas," remarked 4-year-old Kaitlyn Perrine, as she stood in line waiting for her turn to visit with Santa. Once Santa arrived and made the rounds greeting the crowd, the children and their parents lined up to spend a few quality moments telling him what they would like for Christmas and to have their pictures taken. Free photos, cameras and frames were provided by MWR.

Santa and his merry elves arrive courtesy of the NAS Jax Fire Department.

Clowns provided entertainment, keeping children busy by creating balloon characters, and painting young faces with holiday designs. Free donuts, cookies, hot chocolate and sodas were also provided.

"This event has become quite a little tradition here each year. It's really fun. We have the Navy Band here, Orange Park Junior High School Choir and Band. It's something free for our military families to enjoy and the kids get to spend time with Santa and get their pictures taken. There are refreshments and it's just a good time for everyone," said Youth Activities Director Megan Elliot, who coordinated this year's event.

"We haven't told the kids why we came here. We are here for the big surprise (Santa). It's really great. It's a good, healthy thing for families to do," said Jaymie Long, who was with her husband, Richard and children, Richard IV and Jayden. "The kids are going to just be ecstatic when they see Santa coming on the fire truck. They thought we were coming here to play at the park."

Transient Personnel Unit Jax Commanding Officer Cmdr. Don Draper and ABE2 Alfred Arzuaga, who created the winning Christmas card, proudly display their winning check as Anthony and Maliyah Arzuaga look on.

Before the official program began, NAS Jax Chaplain (Lt.) Azariah Robinson gave a short blessing. The event was then kicked off by Capt. Jack Scorby Jr., NAS Jax commanding officer, who also presented several awards to the winners of the Christmas Card Contest, an event sponsored each year by MWR. To enter the contest, commands or departments must create an original holiday card on a piece of plywood. The most creative top three commands win money for their MWR funds. The cards are currently displayed along Yorktown Boulevard.

Winning first place and a $500 prize was Transient Personnel Unit Jax. " I was looking on the Internet at some images and saw two guys who were overseas who were sharing a Christmas card together and I just went with it," said ABE2 Alfred Arzuaga of TPU, who created this year's and last year's winning Christmas card. "I created this in my garage. It was time consuming, but turned out really nice."

Second place, with a prize of $300 went to Consolidated Maintenance Organization Eleven. A third place $200 award was presented to Navy Jax Yacht Club.

Santa happily greets 3-year-old Luz Delgado, right, and 1-year-old Yasmine Delgado at the event.

After an uplifting Christmas song by the children of the NAS Jacksonville Child Development Center, it was finally time for that special moment when the 15-foot Christmas tree would come alive. As Scorby signaled for all the area lights to be turned off, the countdown began. With the flip of a switch and cheers from the crowd, the tree glowed with a brilliant array of lights and decorations.

"I think this event is great. There is a lot for the kids - pictures with Santa, face painting, things for the kids. Everyone is really enjoying this," remarked AM1(AW) Craig Cyr of VP-5.

The Navy Band Southeast played a variety of traditional Christmas songs for the event. The Orange Park Junior High School Choir and Band also entertained the crowd with other holiday tunes.

A special thanks goes out to all the people behind the scenes including the NAS Jax Fire Department, Security, Chapel, Facilities Department, Navy Exchange, Commissary and MWR who help make this annual event such a huge success.

A group of kids check out the lighted Christmas tree.

Neither MWR, nor the U.S. Navy or any other part of the federal government officially endorses any company, sponsor or its products or services.