Santa Needs Some Help At Walter Reed

Ed Meagher, my fellow Vietnam veteran buddy and the public sector health affairs veep at Computer Sciences Corp., has kicked off his annual Operation Covert Santa for patients at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center. He needs to enlist some helpful elves for the project.

The troops and their families send Ed requests for presents, and in turn Ed looks for people to provide the presents in the spirit of the season -- with simple generosity and warmth.

These gift requests are modest, and Ed says, "How you respond is a very personal one and there is no right or wrong as to what you can afford to spend. Whatever you do comes from the heart and therefore it is the right decision."

Ed needs elves to offer gifts in four categories:

1. Large family (mom, dad and two or more children)

2. Small family (mom, dad and one child)

3. Single soldier

4. Single gift

If you want to help out, send an e-mail to emeagher@cox.net, with one of these categories in the subject line. Ed will then send back the gift requests. The elves then shop for, wrap and deliver the presents to Ed (he'll tell you where) no later than Dec. 17.

Or, if you prefer to support the Walter Reed/Bethesda Santa with money, he takes checks and credit cards. Send checks to:

Aleethia Foundation

Operation Covert Santa

1718 M St. NW

Suite 1170

Washington, DC 20036

You can make credit card donations on the Aleethia Foundation website. Keep in mind that Aleethia has no paid staff and no overhead; all donations go to the troops.

Aleethia has provided free Friday night dinners for Walter Reed soldiers since 2003, and is headed by Hal Koster, who ran a steakhouse that originally hosted the dinners, now held primarily at the Capitol Hill Club.