Soto Cano AB, Honduras –
Team Soto Cano kicked the holidays off with singing, dancing, fireworks, food and a special visit from everyone's favorite guy Santa Claus donning a red suit, Thursday, Dec. 15 for more than 400 children from the local orphanages in Comayagua and La Paz.
The Holiday Extravaganza was a first for Team Soto Cano and required support from all agencies to successfully bring holiday cheer to more than 700 participants.
The events began with an Ez-Go float contest, judged by Ambassador Lisa Kubiske, United States' Ambassador to Honduras, in which the team from the JTF-Bravo's Medical Element easily won with their team of "reindeer" pulling Santa and the Elf.
Along with the float contest each unit made a holiday card to be displayed and judged. The winner, 1st Battalion, 228th Army Aviation Regiment, won with a design of a sleigh and reindeer being lead by a signature UH-60 Blackhawk.
The festivities continued with a talent show featuring the best of Team Soto Cano and the local community. Included in the show were traditional Honduran dancers, contemporary live bands and both English and Spanish comedy routines and singers.
Each child was able to take a picture with Santa Clause and received a gift bag from the jolly ol' man.
"The team has received a lot of positive feedback from the Service Members of JTF-Bravo, the FSN's, and the children," said 1st Lt. Amber Goodman, Morale, Welfare and Recreation director and Holiday Extravaganza coordinator. "It was a lot of hard work, but for me, hearing the Service Members say they enjoyed themselves...it truly made it all worth it. And I'll tell you, the success of this event has me excited and I have begun planning some fun events in for the upcoming months."