Thursday, December 23, 1999 Older Editions

A Christmas trooper

By Neil Fater

No matter what the weather, Salvation Army soldier Marie Levesque can be heard belting out Christmas tunes and ringing her bell. She's not just a Salvation Army soldier -- she's a real trooper.

And she's tough to miss. Armed with a small boom box and a host of tiny props, she performs a full repertoire of Christmas carols in her own upbeat, infectious style.

"You're the best thing to happen to Andover," one woman said to her last Friday. That's when Levesque was covering a double shift, stationed in front of the Shawsheen Plaza supermarket from about 9:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. Except for one half-hour break to warm up, Levesque says she was singing and ringing her bell the whole time.

"I enjoy it. It's the only time I get to sing, because I live in a rooming house, and you can't sing there," she says, with a grin. "You can quote me that I really enjoy this. I just like to bring a smile to people's faces."

Levesque grew up in Andover with her twin sister and graduated from Andover High in 1963. Today she lives on Lawrence Street in Lawrence.

She says her favorite song is White Christmas, because she remembers being pulled in a carriage as a kid and is "still a country girl at heart."

"You don't really get a lot of people out there who sing," says Salvation Army Captain Elizabeth Deming. "But she loves it. She really loves it, and that's a gift that she has."

Levesque's gift is helping the Army to help others. Army Captain Elmer Deming says Andover residents are giving about 4 or 5 percent more than they did last year.

"Typically during a good-economy year people aren't as generous, but they are being (generous) this year," he says. "There seems to be a good spirit."

As a Salvation Army soldier since 1977, Levesque knows exactly what songs to sing to keep that spirit lit.

"They like Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, because when it comes to 'So you better be good,' I wave my finger at them," she says.

But Levesque doesn't need a prop for one song that makes everyone jolly when they see her sing it.

"They like All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth, because I was supposed to have my dentures for Christmas, but I've been too busy with the Army," she says.

Levesque can be spotted today, Dec. 23, at the Market Basket in North Andover. Other soldiers will continue at Shawsheen Plaza, and in front of Andover's Old Town Hall on Main Street, until Christmas Eve.