Compassion ever present at Thule Air Base Published Dec. 29, 2008 THULE AIR BASE, Greenland -- Julemand, or "Santa Claus" in Danish, hands a present to a girl during Qaanaaq, Greenland's, Julemand celebration in Qaanaaq Dec. 20. A year of fundraising at Thule, called Operation Julemand, culminates in this event where nearly 300 gifts are given out and thousands of dollars donated to local communities. Started in 1959, Operation Julemand is a humanitarian program organized and supported by all members of Team Thule - American, Danish, Greenlandic and Canadian - to give back to the local Greenlandic community. Members of Team Thule flew to Qaanaaq to participate in the celebration which included a visit from Santa, singing and gift exchange. Three other Inuit villages also receive money from Operation Julemand donations.