DATE: Wednesday, September 17, 1997         TAG: 9709170495

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 
                                            LENGTH:   17 lines

CHRISTMAS COMES CALLING EARLY

Annette Mitchell, 12, couldn't believe it Tuesday when a jolly old

visitor showed up at her room at the Naval Hospital, bearing gifts.

``Santa Claus is my favorite,'' she said. At left, Kris Kringle gets

an enthusiastic reception from, left to right, Nakiia Davenport, 11;

Mitchell; and Jessica Winkelmann, 9. The visits are the start of the

Marine Corps' 1997 Toys for Tots program, which collects gifts for

children. Local chapters will be collecting new, unwrapped toys and

donations at area shopping malls from Nov. 22 to Dec. 22.

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