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Goodfellow hosts Annual Santa's Market & Base Open House

  • Published
  • By Airman First Class Evelyn J. D'Errico
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  

The 17th Training Wing hosted over 3,000 visitors for the 42nd annual Santa’s Market and 2nd annual Base Open House at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, on Nov. 23. 

 

Santa’s Market is an annual holiday-themed festival that is a tradition for Goodfellow, but this year the installation expanded the event by coordinating demonstrations and having base tours showcasing some of Goodfellow's daily operations.

 

Goodfellow and San Angelo community members 42nd annual Santa’s Market and 2nd annual Base Open House at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 23, 2024. Face painting, arts and crafts, photos with Santa and food were some of the activities offered for participants to enjoy. (U.S. Air Force photo Airman 1st Class Evelyn J. D’Errico)

Goodfellow hosts Annual Santa's Market & Base Open House

Goodfellow and San Angelo community members 42nd annual Santa’s Market and 2nd annual Base Open House at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 23, 2024. Face painting, arts and crafts, photos with Santa and food were some of the activities offered for participants to enjoy. (U.S. Air Force photo Airman 1st Class Evelyn J. D’Errico)
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“Bringing everyone together is my favorite part of events like this,” said Joshua Driskell, 17 Force Support Squadron Arts and Crafts Program director. “Everyone has a smile on their face, the community looks forward to us hosting it and seeing everyone’s enjoyment makes this so great.”

 

The event allowed vendors to come on base to share their art and merchandise with the community. Goodfellow showcased its capabilities and let the many service members who make up the 17th TRW share a little bit of the mission that occurs at Goodfellow every day. 

 

Originating as a small holiday craft market for students on base, Santa’s Market has grown into a large-scale community experience with more than 70 vendors and a large involvement with the San Angelo and Goodfellow communities.

 

A Santa’s Market attendee takes a photo with Santa Claus during the 42nd annual Santa’s Market and 2nd annual Base Open House at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 23, 2024. Santa’s Market originated as a small holiday craft market for training students on base and has grown to a large-scale community experience with more than 70 vendors. (U.S. Air Force photo Airman 1st Class Evelyn J. D’Errico)

Goodfellow hosts Annual Santa's Market & Base Open House

A Santa’s Market attendee takes a photo with Santa Claus during the 42nd annual Santa’s Market and 2nd annual Base Open House at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 23, 2024. Santa’s Market originated as a small holiday craft market for training students on base and has grown to a large-scale community experience with more than 70 vendors. (U.S. Air Force photo Airman 1st Class Evelyn J. D’Errico)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

 

“Santa’s Market is a way to give back to the community in a small way, showing how much we appreciate their unwavering support,” said Driskell. “It’s a way for us to support our local vendors, showcase our community's talents and let students get in some shopping before the holidays.”

 

Visitors viewed demonstrations of the 17th Security Forces Squadron military working dogs and a live training aircraft fire from the Louis F. Garland DoD Fire Academy. Visitors also had the opportunity to take bus tours of the base showcasing various historic memorials, training campuses and generally what life on a military installation is like.

 

The annual Santa’s Market and Base Open House offered an opportunity for community members to not only get some Christmas shopping done, but also as an opportunity to see the base and the mission that the San Angelo community helps to support. 

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Aaron Schmidt, 316th Training Squadron airborne cryptologic language analyst instructor supervisor, discusses the 316th TRS mission with a booth visitor during the 42nd annual Santa’s Market and 2nd annual Base Open House at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 23, 2024. The 316th TRS’s mission is to develop leaders and deliver relevant and realistic joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance training for the Department of Defense. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Evelyn D'Errico)

Goodfellow hosts Annual Santa's Market & Base Open House

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Aaron Schmidt, 316th Training Squadron airborne cryptologic language analyst instructor supervisor, discusses the 316th TRS mission with a booth visitor during the 42nd annual Santa’s Market and 2nd annual Base Open House at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 23, 2024. The 316th TRS’s mission is to develop leaders and deliver relevant and realistic joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance training for the Department of Defense. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Evelyn D'Errico)
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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Kirkpatrick, 312th Training Squadron aircraft rescue firefighting instructor, narrates a live aircraft burn demonstration during the 42nd annual Santa’s Market and 2nd annual Base Open House at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 23, 2024. Santa’s Market invited the community on base to learn more about Goodfellow's mission. (U.S. Air Force photo Airman 1st Class Evelyn J. D’Errico)

Goodfellow hosts Annual Santa's Market & Base Open House

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Kirkpatrick, 312th Training Squadron aircraft rescue firefighting instructor, narrates a live aircraft burn demonstration during the 42nd annual Santa’s Market and 2nd annual Base Open House at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 23, 2024. Santa’s Market invited the community on base to learn more about Goodfellow's mission. (U.S. Air Force photo Airman 1st Class Evelyn J. D’Errico)
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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Vanesa Zeka, 17th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron flight medicine technician, left, and Staff Sgt. Nadialine Philippe, right, 17th Healthcare Operations Squadron immunization noncommissioned officer in charge, demonstrate to young participants how to apply a tourniquet during the 42nd annual Santa’s Market and 2nd annual Base Open House at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 23, 2024. Santa’s Market invited the community on base to learn more about Goodfellow's mission. (U.S. Air Force photo Airman 1st Class Evelyn J. D’Errico)

Goodfellow hosts Annual Santa's Market & Base Open House

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Vanesa Zeka, 17th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron flight medicine technician, left, and Staff Sgt. Nadialine Philippe, right, 17th Healthcare Operations Squadron immunization noncommissioned officer in charge, demonstrate to young participants how to apply a tourniquet during the 42nd annual Santa’s Market and 2nd annual Base Open House at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 23, 2024. Santa’s Market invited the community on base to learn more about Goodfellow's mission. (U.S. Air Force photo Airman 1st Class Evelyn J. D’Errico)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res