Little Boy Is Ignored by Marine Guard, But Then People See What He Does With His Left Hand

A vintage advertisement with a young boy and a guard went viral.

In a touching 1997 video, a young boy asks a Marine guard if he’s Santa Claus. The guard, initially ignoring him, unexpectedly reaches for the boy’s Christmas list. This moment promotes the Toys for Tots initiative, started by the Marine Corps Reserve in 1947, which collects new toys for underprivileged children during the holidays. The mission aims to instill hope and help kids become responsible citizens. One viewer noted, “One of the few Christmas commercials I actually like.”