Local leaders recall favorite Christmases

Reflecting on Christmases of the past, Tri-City area officials say family is the source of their all-time favorite Christmas memories.

St. Mary Parish Bear Conflict Officer Catherine Siracusa enjoys having all of her family members together to share a large meal.

“That was always our little favorite time,” Siracusa said. “We didn’t worry about gifts or anything.

“We had the family get together for a large meal and just had fun with everybody coming together to do that.”

It’s been around 15 years since her family gathered together.

Morgan City Commanding Officer Capt. McClellan of the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit enjoys being home with his family, especially after being away for an extended period of time in 1987.

His idea of a good time is sharing and fellowship with the family.

Returning home to Oregon after his first winter attending the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut stands out the most as a Christmas memory for McClellan.

“It was my first time being away from home for a long time,” McClellan said. “It felt pretty special.”

Twenty years ago, St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce President Donna Meyer experienced the end of a big family tradition due to the passing of her grandparents. Her fondest memories are of those times spent with them.

“When my grandparents were alive, all the family would meet up and on Christmas Day open gifts,” Meyer said. “Everyone would be together.

“Now, that they’re gone we’re all in different directions. They were like the glue that kind of kept us all together.”

St. Mary Parish Superintendent of Schools Leonard Armato and Berwick Police Chief James Richard recollect on the element of surprise one Christmas Day.

A 15-year-old Armato received one of the greatest surprises ever Christmas Day. He recalls with laughter the joy he felt that day.

“My mother and father were very conservative,” Armato said. “And they surprised us. They really went out the box and bought my two brothers and I a three-wheeler to share.”

He remembered his grandfather sitting on the three-wheeler when they brought it into the garage.

For Richard, snowfall on Christmas day in 2004 was most memorable for him. He was also named chief of police that year.

“We moved to Berwick that year,” Richard said. “And it was the first time it really snowed on Christmas Day.

“It snowed and snowed and snowed. It was a white Christmas in Berwick.”

In a newly renovated home and new position in leadership surrounded by family and friends, he cherished the day.

“It was a hard snow,” Richard said. “It was very memorable. We had a good time.”

Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan acknowledges the current season of Christmas as his best one yet, in spite of sadness felt in the community.

“Right now, to be in a bad economic crisis and so much death within my community, this would be my best,” Grogan said.

Tuesday night, “we were able to bless 18 families with three or more gifts,” he said. “And we targeted grandparents raising their grandkids.”

Gifts for the seniors were turned over to the St. Mary Council of Aging in Patterson, and the Toys for Tots program collected toys for needy children.

“Although we’re depressed from the deaths, we’re suppressed from the economic situation, love in Patterson is still shining,” Grogan said.

“God is shining all around us right now.”