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Iowa man decorates neighbors’ homes to celebrate wife’s love of Christmas
Indianapolis, Iowa — Santa Claus isn’t driving a sleigh this year in Indianola, Iowa — and instead of presents, he’s bringing joy and light, decorating every house on his block for the upcoming holiday season.
John Reichart, 74, loves Christmas but there’s something else he loves more: His wife of 53 years, Joan. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s four years ago, and since then, the Marine veteran has made it his mission to keep making her memories.
“If it wasn’t for my wife, I don’t know if I would’ve done it,” Reichart said. “But she wanted Christmas, so I’d give it to her. I’d do anything to make her happy.”
Now there are tons of extra hands on his project, helping set up lights, decorations and more. A steady stream of admirers are also coming to check out the holiday cheer.
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“I think the whole neighborhood feels very blessed to have him in this neighborhood,” one neighbor said.
“It’s moving,” added one spectator. “That’s what Christmas is all about.”
Reichart said he can’t see himself stopping the tradition now.
“As long as she’s OK,” he said. “And even if she would pass, I’m gonna do it in her memory as long as I can do it.”
Joan said that she’s loved the holiday spirit her husband has brought to the neighborhood.
“I didn’t know what to think,” Joan said. “But I’m glad he did it. I love him.”
To thank Reichart and celebrate Joan, his neighbors have set up a P.O. box to receive Christmas cards. They’ll give the cards to Reichart to read them to his wife.
CBS News is inviting viewers to send cards. To mail a card to the Reicharts, address it to this P.O. box:
John Reichart
C/O Frank Ewurs
P.O. Box 133
Indianola, Iowa, 50125
NEW YORK — The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade officially kicked off the holiday season Thursday in New York City.
A steady rain fell over the festivities, and pro-Palestinian demonstrators briefly disrupted the parade for a second year in a row.
The NYPD said a25 people were arrested after sitting down on the parade route with Palestinian flags and a banner reading, “Don’t Celebrate Genocide.” All of them were charged with trespassing and received summonses.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP
Despite the dreary weather, CBS News New York’s Jenna DeAngelis reported it didn’t get in the way of the magic.
“You feel it and forget about it, so we’re happy to be here,” said one person who traveled from Baltimore.
Linwood Burden, who is 72 years old, came from Georgia to check the parade off his bucket list .
“I’m so excited about being here, the weather’s no problem,” she said. “Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be here, so this is an opportunity.”
Yuki Iwamura / AP
The annual holiday tradition stepped off at 8:30 a.m. from Central Park West, then marched down Sixth Avenue to Macy’s flagship store at Herald Square.
It featured more than 5,000 volunteers, 34 fan-favorite floats and 22 giant balloons, including some newcomers like Minnie Mouse and Marshall from “PAW Patrol.” One new float celebrated the Bronx Zoo’s 125th anniversary with a tiger, giraffe, zebra and gorilla.
There was also an appearance from the WNBA champion New York Liberty and, of course, the one and only Santa Claus.
“Just being here with the people I love, celebrating Thanksgiving with all these people, and I have to thank the NYPD for keeping us safe today,” said Nanuet resident Shane Cullen.
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Wednesday there were no credible threats against the parade, but law enforcement agencies would be prepared to keep people safe.
The city’s new police commissioner spent time Thursday thanking the officers who were on duty.
“I started my career as an intelligence analyst at the NYPD and have incredible intelligence analysts working here,” Tisch said.
The parade has only been canceled three times — from 1942 to 1944 during World War II. The giant balloon characters are not allowed to fly if sustained winds exceed 23 mph or gusts are over 35 mph, but winds stayed around 10 mph Thursday morning.
Following the parade, the Sanitation Department, using 32 hand brooms, 29 mechanical brooms, 23 backpack blowers and 23 collection trucks, conducted a swift cleanup. Last year, it removed more than 65 tons of debris.
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