Veteran volunteers as Santa Claus

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Trevor Rhynes
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  For the last 27 years, children have sat on his lap and pulled on his beard with hopes of seeing the person behind it. When it doesn't come off, they stare in shock wondering, "Is it really Santa?"

Donald Schneider, an associate with the Ramstein Base Exchange, is the person these children have wondered about at events in parts of Ohio and now Germany.

"I started doing this in Ohio when my son was old enough to understand what was going on," said Schneider.

He puts on the suit every year because it's how he likes to interact with the community.

"I do it for the children," said Schneider. "When I see how happy they get after they go back to their family after getting a picture with me; it makes me happy."

He added, "The amount of children that get their picture taken with me varies on where I am. There are usually more than 20 for a two-hour event."

Not every child runs up to him with excitement, some don't know how to act when seeing Santa.

"Most children are shy when they first see me," Schneider said. "So it may take them a minute or two to come up to me, they always come to get a picture taken at least."

Schneider also visits wounded warriors in hospitals. He holds a connection to the warriors because he served during the Vietnam War, where he lost his right leg.

"When they see me visiting they react just like they would as a kid," he said. "Some people scream 'Santa!' and others come up to me and give me a hug."

"When they notice that I'm a veteran, they seem appreciate what I'm doing for them more," he added.

Schneider tries to spread Christmas joy everywhere he goes throughout the Holidays.

"He tries to go to a hospital, to the Combat Aeromedical Staging Facility, and to events with the Red Cross every year," said Wilma Schneider, Donald Schneider's wife. "He will go anywhere people are interested in having him visit."

The Schneiders hope to continue spreading their holiday cheer as long as possible.

"I plan on doing this as long as anyone will have me," said Schneider. "I am very dedicated to this and hope to go to more places to make people happy."