RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
An unfamiliar sight greeted visitors as they entered the base theater on a wet, chilly evening this week - one that, under normal circumstances, would have been unacceptable in a military environment.
But those Airmen decked out as elves - and even more service members inside wearing their ABUs but forgoing their utility caps in favor of fuzzy red and white headgear- signaled an event that was out of the ordinary.
The occasion was Team Randolph's annual tree-lighting ceremony, sponsored by the Company Grade Officers Council. Col. Jacqueline Van Ovost, 12th Flying Training Wing commander, called the celebration "the very first official event for Randolph to enjoy the Christmas season."
Colonel Van Ovost summed up the spirit of the season.
"It's a time of lights, Christmas music, tinsel, presents, the smell of pine and baked apple pie throughout the kitchen - those are things," she said. "But more than that, it's the season of love, it's the season of family, it's the season of thanks - thanks to our families, friends, thanks to the troops that are deployed, thanks to our peers, thanks to our teachers. This is a great, great season."
Colonel Van Ovost asked the audience to remember those service members in harm's way.
"I want to also ask you to pray for our troops that are deployed and for leadership and ensure their safe return back here at the appointed time," she said.
Moved indoors from Washington Circle because of a steady downpour most of the day, the celebration on Tuesday, emceed by present and past Randolph Ambassadors Capts. Carlos Ferrer and Jennifer Ferrer, featured the vocal talents of Bruna Silva, the 2009 Randolph Idol who sang the national anthem, and the Randolph Elementary School Thunderbird Choir, led by Susan Smith, which rocked the audience with non-standard holiday fare such as "Hip Hop Reindeer."
Despite the change in scenery, Colonel Van Ovost and her two "aides," Alex Chenaille and Alexis Renbarger, two Randolph Elementary students whose parents are deployed, pulled off the traditional flipping of the switch to illuminate the Taj Mahal - and Christmas trees in front of the Taj and inside the theater - without a hitch due to "the magic of civil engineering," the 12th FTW commander said. The audience didn't miss the outdoor scene, watching the Taj light up on the theater screen thanks to a camera positioned in front of Randolph's most famous landmark.
Captain Carlos Ferrer then heightened the anticipation of the many children in the audience who were there for one reason only - to see "a special guest ... who likes to wear a red suit, has a white beard and loves to hand out presents to good little boys and girls."
"Does anyone know a guy who wears a red suit and loves Christmas?" he asked. "Boys and girls, can you help me out?"
Within minutes, beckoned to the theater by the audience's rendition of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," the special guest took his seat in the rotunda of the Taj Mahal while a group of young admirers waited to meet him, place their Christmas orders and conclude their memorable evening by sipping hot chocolate and munching on cookies.
Despite the rainfall, the event more than met expectations, said 2nd Lt. Manuel Ramirez, project coordinator.
"We had a pretty big turnout even though it was raining," he said. "It was hectic with the change in plans, but everybody enjoyed the celebration."