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Some angels wear white, these wear blue

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Raymond Gobberg
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  For the past seven years, the Angels in Blue program has provided children from the local community with a warm Christmas surprise from Cannon Airmen, civilians and their dependents. 

Angels in Blue is a base-wide program through which base personnel sponsor a child and buy him or her gifts during the holiday season, said Yolanda Infante, an administrative assistant for the 27th Special Operations Medical Support Squadron. 

"I contact the Children's homes and let them know that we want to sponsor," said Mrs. Infante. "Then in early November I request a list of children. Once I receive the names I place them on a Christmas tree in the medical group lobby." 

Everyone is eager to sponsor a child, said Mrs. Infante. "All of the names are gone within 30 minutes." 

This year, more than 70 children from the New Mexico Christian Children's Home and the New Mexico Baptist Children's Home were sponsored by 14 organizations and squadrons from Cannon, said Amy Pata, coordinator for Angels in Blue at Cannon. 

"The community looks forward to us coming and appreciates the fact that we are a part of this community," said Mrs. Pata. "The children absolutely love when the military comes up; they get to see them in their uniforms and just want to have a great time." 

"The children see that people care for them; they see that the military and the community are there for them," said Mrs. Pata "It definitely gives them a positive outlook on life." 

These children represent the future and are extremely important, continued Mrs. Infante. 

"They need to have a great Christmas, no matter what is taking place in their lives," she said. 

The spirit of giving is exactly what the Angels in Blue provided these children during two gift-giving events, one on Dec. 5 at the New Mexico Christian Children's Home and another on Dec. 13 at the New Mexico Baptist Children's Home. 

Each event included singing and dancing by the children and culminated with the 'Angels from Cannon' opening gifts with the children. 

Senior Airman Ashley Newton from the 27th Special Operations Medical Support Squadron dressed as an elf and delivered gifts to the children and said that spending time with the kids was an awesome experience. 

"When the kids opened the presents you could see just how grateful they really were," said Airman Newton. "These kids do not have as much as we do and they may not have families, but they deserve the best Christmas we can provide." 

"This is what the holidays are all about," she added. "It is not about getting anything, it's about giving." 

Casey Robinson, a teenager from the New Mexico Christian Children's Home, was sponsored by the 3rd Special Operations Squadron and got exactly what he had hoped for this holiday season. 

"My favorite present was the watch they gave me," he said. "I was just about to buy one at Wal-Mart last night, but something told me to wait; when I opened my gift [from the Angels in Blue], there it was." 

Mr. Robinson said that he needs the watch to take patients' blood pressures during the health-care assistant class in which he is currently enrolled.

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