Long lines for Santa Claus

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.

"We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished."

New York Sun Newspaper

December 21, 2012

On Tuesday night promptly at 6:30 p.m. children and adults alike got the chance to believe in Santa as he and Mrs. Claus (Steve and Suzanne McCrary) sat down at Du Quoin's new Central Plaza and talked to children of all ages about the magic of Christmas and believing.

If you didn't get there early you had to wait in line--a fairly LONG line--that stretched from the new community Christmas tree eastward across Oak Street to the front door's of Doc Z's Fitness Center.

Du Quoin police officers directed cars away from the area around the Central Plaza so the fire truck carrying Big C had plenty of room to park. Down came Santa, shaking the children's hands, wishing their parents a Merry Christmas and triggering dozens of Smart Phones as he and Mrs. C. sat down and began distributing the 400 cookies that Marks Bakery and Baked by Gene bakeries decorated for this special night.

All were individually bagged with a small bow tied at the end. The children climbed up onto his knee and made their case about being good this past year.

The whole time Mayor Guy Alongi and wife Rose stood nearby beaming with soft smiles that this is a town that still wants and needs to bring the magic of Christmas to its children.