News, Campaign & The Store
“Acts 17:26 says, ‘Of one blood God made all people, to live together on the face of the earth.’ So we can be brothers and sisters because we are one blood; we are the human race. And I believe if my uncle were here today, he’d like for us to consider ourselves as human beings, not different races. One race, colorblind…” -Alveda King
The first time the birth of Jesus Christ was attributed to the date December 25 was in the 4th century, according to early Roman history. Early celebrations of Christmas are thought to have derived from Roman and other European festivals that marked the end of the harvest, and the winter solstice.
Some customs from those celebrations that have endured include decorating homes with greenery, giving gifts, singing songs, and eating special foods.
The holiday developed further with the legend of St. Nicholas. Although much of his history is unconfirmed, the man who became St. Nicholas lived in the 4th century and is believed to have been a bishop in Asia Minor.
Many miracles are attributed to him and some countries named him their patron saint. He also is considered the patron saint of, among others, children (for protecting them), sailors (whom he reputedly saved at sea), and the poor (to whom he generously gave gifts).
In his honor, the Feast of St. Nicholas was marked on December 6 and gifts given the night before. The tradition was well established in many European countries by the 12th century. Eventually, because St. Nicholas’ Day and Christmas Day are so close together, their traditions generally were combined.
St. Nicholas took on different personas in different countries. For example, The Netherlands have Sinter Klaas; Father Christmas gives gifts in Great Britain; Père Noël does the same in France; and in Germany St. Nicholas has had many names including Klaasbuur, Burklaas, Rauklas, Bullerklaas, and Sunnercla, although Father Christmas is becoming more popular. In the United States, the Dutch settlers’ Sinter Klaas evolved into Santa Claus.
Sources: Encarta 96 Encyclopedia, World Book, Encyclopedia Brittanica
You too can be ones of Santa’s Christmas Elves and Report for Duty for America’s 1# Christmas Drive “Operation Christmas For Our Troops & Their Families”! Help bring local community based support for America’s Best and their Families this 2018 Christmas Season!
Contact Santa’s Elves at Info@YellowRibbonAmerica.org to learn how YOU can Help Support Your Local Military Units and their families this Christmas!
“Operation Christmas For Our Troops & Their Families” is a community outreach project of Our Nation’s Heroes Foundation and proudly supported by the Yellow Ribbon America News & Campaign for America’s Military members and their families. Our Nation’s Heroes Foundation is a California public benefit nonprofit corporation, with tax-exempt status under Sections 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, EIN: 46-4762128.
North Pole South / FOB Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, CA: On December 8, 2018 Santa’s Elves, with “Operation Christmas For Our Troops & Their Families” had the wonderful opportunity to once again deliver Toy’s to the MP Soldier’s and at the Main Gate of the JFTB Los Alamitos Base for their families of the California Army National Guard!
You too can be ones of Santa’s Christmas Elves and Report for Duty for America’s 1# Christmas Drive “Operation Christmas For Our Troops & Their Families”! Help bring local community based support for America’s Best and their Families this 2018 Christmas Season!
Contact Santa’s Elves at Info@YellowRibbonAmerica.org to learn how YOU can Help Support Your Local Military Units and their families this Christmas!
“Operation Christmas For Our Troops & Their Families” is a community outreach project of Our Nation’s Heroes Foundation and proudly supported by the Yellow Ribbon America News & Campaign for America’s Military members and their families. Our Nation’s Heroes Foundation is a California public benefit nonprofit corporation, with tax-exempt status under Sections 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, EIN: 46-4762128.
North Pole South / FOB: U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Center, Garden Grove, CA:-On December 8, 2018 “Operation Christmas For Our Troops & Their Families” gave fun and helpful Unit Christmas Party Support to the wonderful Soldiers and families of the 109th Medical Detachment Veterinary Services, United States Army Reserve.” Read below…
“Thank you so much for your time and efforts for helping us fund our Unit Christmas party. (This was our first one in years from what I heard since I took the position as the Training /Operations NCO here) So this was a truly different and memorable experience for the Soldiers and their families.
With the help of the “Operation Christmas For Our Troops & Their Families, Our Nations Heroes Foundation and the Yellow Ribbon America News & Campaign, we were able to fund for 30 Soldiers’ plus their families meals! SGT Tonya Tran, Training /Operations NCO, 109th Medical Detachment Veterinary Services, United States Army Reserve.”
You too can be ones of Santa’s Christmas Elves and Report for Duty for America’s 1# Christmas Drive “Operation Christmas For Our Troops & Their Families”! Help bring local community based support for America’s Best and their Families this 2018 Christmas Season!
Contact Santa’s Elves at Info@YellowRibbonAmerica.org to learn how YOU can Help Support Your Local Military Units and their families this Christmas!
“Operation Christmas For Our Troops & Their Families” is a community outreach project of Our Nation’s Heroes Foundation and proudly supported by the Yellow Ribbon America News & Campaign for America’s Military members and their families. Our Nation’s Heroes Foundation is a California public benefit nonprofit corporation, with tax-exempt status under Sections 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, EIN: 46-4762128.
.
December 9, 2018
MEDIA ADVISORY
Orange County, California: Known for its beautiful Beaches, Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm. Orange County, California recognizes its local grassroots community outreach effort and Annual Christmas Drive for our Nations Military and their families. Led by Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors Andrew Do the OC Board in a 5-0 unanimous vote once again Recognizes and passes a Special Christmas Resolution for Orange County’s, California home based “Operation Christmas For Our Troops & Their Families”…
By the authority of the Orange County Board Supervisors the following proclamation is hereby issued:
WHEREAS, thousands of American men and women are stationed at locations around the world in service to our country, and whether it be as operational support or in facing combat, each of them is fighting for and defending our freedom; and
WHEREAS, it is very difficult for military families when their loved one is deployed as these family members must manage the daily routine that continues in the absence of their loved ones while they also cope with their concern for their well-being and anxiously await their safe return; and
WHEREAS, Now in it’s 14 Year Anniversary; Yellow Ribbon America’s and Our Nations Heroes Foundation’s “Operation Christmas For Our Troops & Their Families” has mobilized its annual grassroots effort to help deliver Christmas support to America’s local military Units and their families; and
WHEREAS, The effort, which supports the National Guard, Reserve and Active Duty deployed and at home military Units and their families, began in November 2004 and has grown every year since is now the largest community based Christmas Holiday support effort for both our Nation’s military Units and their families; and
WHEREAS, The growth of Operation Christmas for Our Troops & Their Families has expanded operations which now includes a special Ulitimate Military Unit Christmas Party for America’s Mlitary & their families at Knotts Berry Farm located in Buena Park, California; and
WHEREAS, Yellow Ribbon America News & Campaign & Our Nations Heroes Foundation remains dedicated to serving our nation’s Military and now hosts dozens of Christmas drive drop off locations around Orange County and even more around California and the rest of the United States for continual support for our Military and their families;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT Resolved That The Orange County Board Of Supervisors do hereby congratulate and thank Yellow Ribbon America News & Campaign and Our Nation’s Heroes Foundation for its service to the residents of Orange County and the efforts they make to improve the lives of United States Military Men and Women and their Families.
Dated this 9th day in December, 2018
“Operation Christmas For Our Troops & Their Families” is a community outreach project of Our Nation’s Heroes Foundation and proudly supported by the Yellow Ribbon America News & Campaign for America’s Military members and their families. Our Nation’s Heroes Foundation is a California public benefit nonprofit corporation, with tax-exempt status under Sections 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, EIN: 46-4762128.
North Pole South / FOB Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, CA: – On December 7, 2018 Santa’s Elves, with “Operation Christmas For Our Troops & Their Families” had the wonderful opportunity to spend some time yesterday with the Soldiers and families of Company A, 5/19th Special Forces Group (A), California Army National Guard.
What a blessing it was to enjoy the day with them and their families! It was so great to hear some of their stories and enjoy their great sense of humor! They were great hosts to us and were very humble about what they do. We were also able to hand deliver to the Soldiers Christmas Cards that were sent to us from a Girl Scout Troop in Michigan to give to our Troops this Christmas. One 5/19th SFG Soldier said it was the first Christmas Card that he ever received as a Soldier. We had a lot fun with them, we were there to serve and honor them but instead they served and honored us… It was surprising to learn through their great sense of combat humor that a lot of them have been wounded multiple times. Both they and their families have sacrificed so much for all of us American’s… What great and humble real Heroes they and their families are. A special time we will never forget!
Because of Christmas support from people like you we were able to help them with funds for their food and beverage costs for their Unit’s Inaugural Christmas Holiday Parachute Jump for their Soldiers, families and friends. With Your Much Needed Support we look forward in supporting them next year with their Military family days and their 2019 Christmas Holiday Parachute Jump!
It’s been a long time sense we had the honor to help support the 5/19th Special Forces Group (A) and long over do! We first learned a little about them because of one of their wounded Soldiers and currant Long Beach Police Training Officer who we were very blessed to meet with his future wife back in December of 2004 our very first Christmas Drive. Through a friend we were asked to help Welcome Home SFC Chris Martin (Ret) by his future wife Deanna. She was going to greet him at 10:00pm at the John Wayne Airport in Orange County California and wanted to do something special for him.
We were able to meet her at the Airport and bring her Starbuck’s coffee and give to her a special Angels Baseball signed by the Team of the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, California, “Thank You” Tim Salmon’s Foundation and Vladimir Guerrero! Because he was wounded in 2002 by an IED in Afghanistan 4+ months into his deployment, SFC Chris Martin (Ret) was medically evacuated to first Germany than to Walter Reed U.S. Army Hospital here in the United States so he never had a “Welcome Home” with his Unit. He spent over 2 years undergoing multiple surgeries and recovering from his wounds.
But sense that time till today he and his family are doing ok. Over the years he has been a great volunteer public speaker on many occasions, encouraging all Americans to support to our Military Unit’s and their families and serves on the Board of the Long Beach Police Officers Association, Our Nation’s Heroes Foundation and other Military associations. And his Son went on to become a United States Marine! SFC Chris Martin (Ret) was the first American Soldier from California wounded in Afghanistan in 2002.
Picture 3: SFC Lyons (Ret) who was wounded with Chris in Afghanistan in 2002 is on the left, SFC Martin (Ret) is on the right. At Ground Zero, World Trade Center, New Your City, New York. 2003. On a Department of Defense Public Relations Tour.
Picture 4: SFC Martin (Ret) is on the left and SFC Lyons (Ret) is on the right at Ground Zero, World Trade Center, New Your City, New York. 2003. On a Department of Defense Public Relations Tour.
You too can be ones of Santa’s Christmas Elves and Report for Duty for America’s 1# Christmas Drive “Operation Christmas For Our Troops & Their Families”! Help bring local community based support for America’s Best and their Families this 2018 Christmas Season!
Contact Santa’s Elves at Info@YellowRibbonAmerica.org to learn how YOU can Help Support Your Local Military Units and their families this Christmas!
“Operation Christmas For Our Troops & Their Families” is a community outreach project of Our Nation’s Heroes Foundation and proudly supported by the Yellow Ribbon America News & Campaign for America’s Military members and their families. Our Nation’s Heroes Foundation is a California public benefit nonprofit corporation, with tax-exempt status under Sections 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, EIN: 46-4762128.
