Santa Claus, portrayed by event coordinator Dick McCallum, rides alongside Sgt. Daniel M. Iversen in a CH-46 helicopter en route to route to the remote village of the Havasupai tribe in order to deliver Christmas gifts to children as part of the Toys for Tots program on Dec. 16. Iversen, a 31-year-old native of Torrance, Calif., was one of seven Marine reservists from the Phoenix-based Environmental Services Detachment who escorted Santa. Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764, a reserve unit based at Edwards Air Force Base north of Los Angeles, has flown toys to the village’s children for Christmas as part of the Toys for Tots program for the past 14 years.
photo courtesy of: USMC
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