Home for the Holiday

BUTTE — Sending letters to Santa is a Christmas tradition. But the jolly elf saw something special this year when he read letters from sisters Bailee Wolcoff, 8, and Hollee Wolcoff, 7.

Saint Nick noted their requests for Skylanders Swap Force characters, but in this case what stood out for him was just one word, Paul.

That’s “Paul,” as in their big brother, U.S. Marine LCpl. Paul Amore, 21, who has been stationed in Washington state for the past year.

Amore said he began planning to surprise his little sisters after his mom Heather Wolcoff sent him a text about their letters to Santa. He has 10 days leave this Christmas.

She said the girls asked for other things for Christmas, but there was one thing they wanted most.

“We really want Bubby home for Christmas,” Wolcoff said.

Amore flew into Anchorage Friday night. So to pull off the surprise, his grandfather picked him up airport and he stayed with grandparents, Tedd and Sandi Garcia, in Eagle River.

“He’s put on about 30 pounds of muscle since we saw him last,” Tedd said.

“His hair’s longer, too,” his mother added.

She said it was torture last night knowing her son was just down the road in Eagle River.

“I think I got two hours sleep,” she said.

The idea to incorporate the special delivery into the Reindeer Farm’s annual Christmas open house grew out of a Facebook note she posted looking for someone to play Santa to deliver Paul to his sisters, she said.

Instead, when the Reindeer Farm opened its doors for tours, hay rides and visits with Santa, Dec. 21 the special delivery was planned as one of the highlights of the day.

“The girls have no idea,” said their grandmother Sandi, while waiting at the Reindeer Farm for the girls to arrive. “I’m glad he could come home. You never know when he’s going to go over seas. We have to enjoy him while we can.”

Military service is a family tradition, she said. Her husband, Tedd, who retired from the U.S. Army, is the fourth generation of his family to serve in the Army. But grandson Amore selected a different branch of service, the U.S. Marine Corps.

Robert Wolcoff says his son is the type of person who needs to be challenged.

“And the Marine Corps was the biggest challenge I knew of,” Wolcoff said.

Later Friday night Valley musician Adele Morgan got a message from Heather Wolcoff asking her to sing “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” to help celebrate the occasion, too.

“My son-in-law is a Marine. I couldn’t say no,” Morgan said Saturday.

Family, friends, media and locals caught up in this special moment moved in with their cameras when it was Bailee and Hollee’s turn to talk to Santa. He told the two he was glad to see them, that he remembered their letter, and had made a special stop in Washington on his way to Butte on Saturday.

That’s the cue for their big brother Paul to step from behind the thick plastic drape and fold them into his arms.

“You guys were good little girls this year,” Santa said. “How’s that for a gift?”

Few dry eyes remained as the siblings and then other family members shared long embraces; even grandpa Tedd was crying.

“How am I supposed to sing after this,” Morgan asked, sniffing back her own tears of joy.

Asked about those letters to Santa, the two said they had asked for toys, but that they both requested one special gift.

“You don’t need any more toys,” Paul says, pulling them tighter against him. “You have me.”

Contact Heather A. Resz at 352-2268 or heather.resz@frontiersman.com.