Christmas Season 2004 once again finds well over 100,000 American service men and women deployed in Iraq. While fighting for their lives on a daily basis, the men and women in our armed forces are also missing their families and wondering what will become of Christmas for their children. The soldiers from Shreveport and Bossier City (LA) can rest a little bit easier this year knowing that Santa is getting a helping hand from Shreveport’s caring Krewe members.

The Krewe of Centaur united last week with many members from the Krewes of Elders, Justinian, des Ambassadeurs, Highland, Sobek, Akewa, Apollo, Barkus & Meoux, Harambee, Les Femmes, Artemis and Gemini to make Christmas a reality for the children and families of US soldiers who are currently deployed overseas in Iraq.

The party was held in Shreveport, LA, at the Lowe-McFarlane American Legion Post 14. The American Legion donated use of the entire facility for the day which made for a beautiful setting for all of the “Krewe Christmas” activities. Set in a beautiful room with polished wood floors, the terrific Holiday decorations were highlighted by a patriotic Christmas tree. According to Tom Adair, a retired Marine Corps veteran who is the organizer from the Krewe of Centaur, “All of the staff of the post pitched in and worked just as hard as any of the Mardi Gras Krewe members.” Also at the party were four ladies who are professional face painters who spent their time adding the magical touch of their brushes to the beautiful faces of all of the children.

Also volunteering at the event were local students from Byrd, Captain Shreve, and Caddo Magnet High Schools who came out and ran games, kept the children away from the lake and escorted them around the games on a one on one basis. The young ladies from the local Girl Scout Troop 40 used $800.00 of their cookie money to purchase gifts for these children, as well. Their hard work during the year selling cookies allowed them to purchase a selection of toys for both girls and boys ranging in age from 6 months to 12 years old.

This Christmas party is just the latest culmination of an on-going effort that started not long after the war on terror began over two years ago. Shreveport’s Krewe members have continuously been collecting and distributing boxes of goods to the families of local military units deployed overseas including the 1/156th Armor Battalion (Shreveport), and Bravo Co, 123rd Marines (Bossier City).

The Krewes combined efforts for Christmas collected enough gifts for Santa to give each child who attended three very nice gifts, as well as two or three grocery sacks full of small prizes they won at the carnival games. Attended by almost 500 children and military family members, they were all well fed with hamburgers, pizza, hot dogs, chips, cookies, fruit, and tons of candy for all the kids.


No Christmas party would be complete without Santa and this year he arrived on the train provided by the 40/8 Veterans Club. All of the children took turns riding the Santa train and were given train whistles to ‘toot’. To the thrill of all of the children the Caddo Parish Sheriffs escort came to the Post with sirens, lights and the train whistle blowing.


During the afternoon each child was able to visit with Santa who gave them stockings stuffed with candy, a toy and a reindeer antler headband all donated by Kelli Hoffee, one of the Centaur float lieutenants.

According to Tom Adair, “this is a Christmas I will never forget!” Our guess is that this is a Christmas that these children will never forget, as well. Krewe Central salutes the Krewes of Shreveport. Once again they have proven that “Krewes Care”.




For more information, you can click on this link to read the story posted in the Shreveport Times. http://www.shreveporttimes.com