Santa’s reindeer cleared for flight
State agriculture secretary says herd is fit to make deliveries
Donder and the rest of Santa’s reindeer have been cleared by Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and State Veterinarian Dr. Alex Hamberg for their planned flight across the state this evening. Courtesy photo
Santa and his nine reindeer appeared Monday at Hersheypark for a special announcement on their planned flight across Pennsylvania on Christmas Eve. Courtesy photo
Santa's reindeer have been cleared for flight on Christmas Eve. Courtesy photo
Donder and the rest of Santa’s reindeer have been cleared by Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and State Veterinarian Dr. Alex Hamberg for their planned flight across the state this evening. Courtesy photo
Santa and his nine reindeer appeared Monday at Hersheypark for a special announcement on their planned flight across Pennsylvania on Christmas Eve. Courtesy photo
Santa's reindeer have been cleared for flight on Christmas Eve. Courtesy photo
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HERSHEY -- Santa's reindeer have been cleared to fly, speeding them on their way to make special deliveries across the state tonight.
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, Assistant State Veterinarian Dr. Erin Luley and state Tourism Office Executive Director Kaitie Burger joined Santa Claus and his team of nine reindeer at Hersheypark Monday to announce that the reindeer received a clean bill of health from the Department of Agriculture.
"The magic that makes Santa's reindeer fly is a secret we'll never tell," Redding said. "But Pennsylvania's young and young at heart can nestle snug in their beds knowing the reindeer are healthy and ready to take flight."
Santa's reindeer -- Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen and Rudolph -- received clearance to fly to Pennsylvania from Dr. Sarah Coburn, Alaska's state veterinarian. Luley and Pennsylvania's State Veterinarian
Dr. Alex Hamberg reviewed Alaska's Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and declared the team healthy to fly from rooftop to rooftop in all 67 Pennsylvania counties for the purposes of toy delivery to the children of Pennsylvania.
"Despite Rudolph's shiny red nose and the team's mysterious ability to fly," Luley said, "Santa's reindeer have received excellent care from Santa's herd manager at the North Pole, and from Hersheypark's team during their stay here, and they are up to the task of spreading joy, and only joy, across Pennsylvania."
After the team finishes flying Santa across the state, the reindeer will appear at Hersheypark's Christmas Candylane through Jan. 1. More information is available at hersheypark.com.