Legion Santa tradition lives

The phone rang in Stanton’s American Legion hall on Wednesday evening and Santa answered. Old St. Nick took calls until his bedtime approached, and the scene was repeated on Thursday.

A tradition began when, in 1949, members of the Ernie Johnson Legion Post considered an appropriate way to use a small profit derived from “Baseball Day”. Veterans of both WW I and WW II voted to outfit a “Legion Santa Claus” and deliver gifts to school children in second grade and below. The event was termed a success, and the Legion’s Ladies’ Auxiliary decided to try a venture of their own. They made plans to serve the first “Baseball Day Smörgåsbord.” 

In 1949, Christmas gifts were delivered in a borrowed sleigh to 120 children, at a cost of $120 plus costume, elves and travel expenses. Auxiliary ladies weren’t sure how many smörgåsbord dinners were served at Baseball Day, but they netted over $700.

Sixty-seven years have passed. Baseball Day is not what it once was. The famed Swedish smörgåsbord, popular with players as well as fans, is no more. The Legion Santa, however, not only goes on – he’s doubled.

This resulted because Santa’s visits during the early years were often delayed by chats with children. Small town hospitality being what it is, further time was consumed when parents invited Santa and the elves for a cookie and eggnog. Santa didn’t mind when the hour grew late, but some parents at the end of the list became impatient. In 1981 it was decided that two Santas were needed to speed up the process; one taking the north half of town, the other the south.

This year, in spite of wind chills approaching 25 below, gifts were delivered to about sixty-five children. Rural youngsters were able to take part as well, meeting Santa in the homes of friends or relatives in town, or at the Legion Hall.