Fort Leonard Wood is scheduled to celebrate Thanksgiving with a traditional Thanksgiving meal served in 10 dining facilities.
William Moffitt, Installation Food Program manager, said he expects to serve about 10,000 people during the celebratory meal.
"This year I have witnessed the excitement and anticipation for this meal. Ultimately, it always turns out to be a very festive day in our tradition. It is a time to reflect on the many challenging goals achieved. I enjoy seeing the glow in each trainee's eyes as the stress melts away," Moffitt said.
Moffitt estimates that more than four tons of turkey, 1,000 pounds of shrimp, 3,000 pounds of rib eye, more than 1,800 assorted pies and a cornucopia of traditional foods will be served at Fort Leonard Wood Thursday.
Companies, battalion command teams and cadre have blocked off times to serve and eat with their Soldiers in Training. A chart of dining times can be found on page A4.
On Thanksgiving Day, more than 300 food service staff will be hard at work.
The decorations in the dining facilities are a part of an Army competitive tradition.
"Battalion teams, managers and staff assigned to each facility decorate their dining halls," Moffitt said.
Family and friends are welcome to dine Thanksgiving Day to support their military member in the individual's assigned dining facility.
"Veterans and military retirees are also welcome to dine and experience the atmosphere in DDFAC 6111 on Indiana Avenue, one of the largest dining facilities in the Department of Defense," Moffitt said.
DFAC 3223 will be closed.
The 2014 Thanksgiving holiday meal rate, established by the Department of the Army is, $7.70. All service members receiving Basic Allowance for Subsistence, regardless of their grade/rank, are required to pay the $7.70 holiday meal rate. Guests of service members are also required to pay the $7.70 holiday meal rate. Family members of service members in the grade of E4 and below are required to pay the discounted holiday meal rate of $6.55.
"The planning starts for the next Thanksgiving meal the day after. The importance of the day makes us want the following year to be even better," Moffitt said.
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