First Posted: 12/4/2014
EXETER — Santa’s sleigh will be coming early at the Pittston American Legion Post 477 Christmas party being held on Sunday, Dec. 14.
Bill Clarke, 68, a resident of Falls, is the man responsible for the sleigh touching down 11 days before Christmas by having a sleigh constructed for the American Legion party for the children.
“It’s for all the members kids,” said Clarke. “Over there we’re going to have Santa Claus, Mrs. Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty, the Grinch with his dog, elves, the sleigh and a red and white bag and a brown and white bag sitting in the back of it.”
Clarke said the sleigh will also be used for other appearances throughout the month as well, including the West Pittston Christmas parade on Dec. 7.
This is not the first time Clarke has had a sleigh constructed for holiday purposes, as he had one built in the early ’90s, but the sleigh got ruined after it had been left outside in the elements.
He said it’s been 14 years since he’s had one and decided this year it was time to make a new one, but not for reasons some might believe.
“I got a double knee replacement,” said Clarke.
The sleigh will have light-emitting diode (LED) lights, a feature that Clarke said he is very excited about.
“We’ll get the kids in it and they’ll like it a lot,” said Clarke. “When they sit in there we’re going to have it lit up.”
The wood for the sleigh came from Clarke’s friend Joe Bradigon, who is a cabinet maker, according to Clarke. Clarke said Bradigon constructed the wood for the sleigh as well.
“He started making the sleigh and I said ‘Joe, I need the sleigh to be 4-by-8. I need one that can get through doors and that’s what he did,” said Clarke. “I sent away for the LED lights, we painted it it red, I got the green mats put in for the kids so they’re not slipping and sliding around on it.”
Clarke did not have to look far to get help in painting the sleigh as his granddaughter Karen Graaf, 21, of Pittston, and her friend Jamie Catalano, 20, of Pittston Township, have been taking care of that part.
“My grandfather got me doing it,” said Graaf. “I do art, but I don’t paint and he volunteered me to do it, which I have no problem with it. Jamie, I just brought him along. He’s my best friend, he does everything with me.”
From the red interior, to the gold outlining, the two said they usually began painting every day around 1 p.m. for the past week and would not call it a day until about 5:30 p.m.
Graaf works as a personal care attendant at Allied Tarrece in Clarks Summit and said when she would leave work she would go in and paint. Catalano is a nursing student and he works at Pilot Travel Centers. He said he usually works until 4 p.m., but immediately heads over to begin painting.
Clarke said it’s been all family helping in getting the sleigh finished.
“It’s mostly been a family deal with my granddaughter and nieces helping out,” said Clarke. “Anytime I ask people for something they jump right in. As soon as I ask they just jump right in.”
With the American Legion party still a few days away, Clarke is looking forward to the looks on the kids’ faces when they see the sleigh and when Santa pays them a visit in it.
“That’s my motto,” said Clarke. “Smiles on little kids faces and make them believe. That’s how we do it. No amount of money could buy that.”
When the holidays are over and done, Clarke said that, unlike last time, this sleigh will be well protected, saying he is most likely going to just store it in his apartment.
