Santa Claus left his sleigh home Tuesday and caught a ride aboard a Marine Unit fireboat for a ride across Newport Beach Harbor.
Santa was aboard the Department vessel to pay a surprise visit to 215 seriously ill youngsters taking a harbor cruise courtesy of the “Make a Wish” Foundation.
Photographs by Professional Services Responder George Ridley
Santa was escorted by Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and the Deputies who make up the crew of the fireboat.
The youngsters and their families were aboard Crystal, a charter craft from Electra Cruises for a 2 ½ hour dinner cruise of the harbor when Santa and Sheriff Hutchens came alongside in the fireboat.
Santa distributed gifts to all the good children, and luckily none of the 215 youngsters aboard had made Santa’s naughty list.
While the youngsters were happy to see Santa and their parents glad to visit with the Sheriff, the Department personnel volunteering for the event were overjoyed to see Honorary Deputy Dylan.
Honorary Deputy Dylan was granted a wish last year, to be an honorary Deputy Sheriff for one day. He visited throughout the Department and won his way into the hearts of almost everybody he met that day. Dylan was on the cruise.