Clay Gives Family A Claysmas To Remember

Anika Jones never expected what she got last night. Airing on FOX last night, Dear Santa was a one-hour special where 'santa' granted the wishes of 4 special kids. Anika had hoped that her father would be back from Iraq and so that the family could spend their first Christmas together in years. Clay was on hand to help welcome her dad, and other Marines serving in Anika's dad's divison home after a 9 month tour in Iraq. Aiken felt that it was important because Brett (Clay's brother) had also just returned home from Iraq. To celebrate the occasion, Clay sang an abridged version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, while Clay's rendition of My Grown Up Christmas List was used as background music for a video montage about the family.

Clack should be up at hte usual places: Vivavoce, Allthingsclayaiken.com, Measureofafan.com and the Clayboard.

We would like to thank CDD Clay News Weekly subscriber Romy for this fantastic recap of the show.

The "Dear Santa" program, shown on Friday, Dec. 9. 2005, starred Santa
and four celebrities who helped present gifts to four specially chosen
children who wrote Santa Claus through US Postal Service.
The celebrities included Raven Symone, Hillary Duff, Tony Hawk and
Clay Aiken. Clay was featured in the last segment where a little six
year old girl wished for her daddy, Greg Jones, to come home for
Christmas. The family, including the mother, a younger sister and
Amika, hadn't spent Christmas with their father for the past four years
While Amika was doing gymnastics, getting ready for a meet, her daddy
walked into the gym and she leaped into his arms. Clay's voice was
heard in the background singing "My Grown Up Christmas List" . The
family was shown spending Christmas together, having dinner and
attending a special party at Fort Lewis for the families of soldiers
serving overseas.
At the party, sponsored by the Moral, Welfare and Recreation
Association, Clay came on the stage and sang a short version of "Have
Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," with Andy on the guitar and William
Joseph on the piano. His rendition was quietly gentle and sincere.
His face just radiated with a sweet smile.
Sartorially dressed, Clay wore a dark gray suit with white stripes
and a red shirt, a shade I couldn't identify. This was completed with
a dark blue tie patterned with large white circles. He looked like a
Christmas present that any Claymate would love to find under the tree.
He presented the MWR with a Jeep, one of the sponsors of the show.
His part of the show was very short, but he did mention that his
brother had returned from Iraq and he could sympathize with these
families. Amika said, "he is a very good singer." We agree.