Santa, 349th ARS team up for holiday treat

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Victor J. Caputo
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  The 349th Air Refueling Squadron hosted 20 kids from Big Brothers Big Sisters Wichita for the annual Operation Santa event, Dec. 19, here.

The children toured several parts of the base, during which they got to see a KC-135R Stratotanker, a military working dog demonstration and the KC-135R flight simulator.

"It's been a lot of working planning this, and we're very excited to see it come to fruition," said 1st Lt. Travis Nelson, 349th ARS pilot. "We're just trying to give the kids a great experience and show them something they've probably never seen before.

Santa paid a special visit to the children at the end of their lunch, where he had plenty of gifts in tow to hand out.

The 349th ARS "Bandits" are proud to host this event each year, and many members feel it is engrained in the squadron heritage.

"It's awesome watching these guys run with it," said Lt. Col. Stephen Matthews, 349th ARS commander. "They really pour their hearts into owning the relationship we have with the community."

Members of the BBBS are also looking forward to the continued relationship not only with the 349th, but with the service members of McConnell as a whole.

"We have a wonderful relationship with the 349th ARS," said Alicia Rivas, BBBS program director for Sedgwick and Butler counties. "It gives them an opportunity to experience something new. They do a lot for our kids, and we really appreciate that."