Pfc. Keith Clark, 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, stands next to an ice sculpture boat for the shrimp cocktail display for the Thanksgiving meal at Thunderbird Dining Facility on Nov. 23. The ice sculptures were carved by Soldiers assigned to th...

Fort Huachuca - Thunderbird Dining Facility served 585 meals during its annual Thanksgiving meal Nov. 23 for all active duty Soldiers, Families, Civilians and the public.

The menu included turkey, Cornish game hens, salmon, ham, prime rib, steaks and many of the standard holiday fares of green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.

On Nov. 24 Weinstein Dining Facility served 1,100 meals with a similar menu. Together almost 1,700 Thanksgiving meals were served at Fort Huachuca DFACs. Fort Huachuca senior leadership served customers throughout the event in two separate lines.

Kendall Brown, Installation Food Program manager, said the feedback from this year's event was positive. The displays, the menu and the quality of food received great reviews. The ice sculptures on display were carved by the culinary specialists, or92G Soldiers, assigned to the DFAC. They took a class to learn basic carving skills and then produced the sculptures seen around the DFAC.

Brown said the prep work starts 30 days before Thanksgiving and the cooking begins 72 hours before with 24 hour shifts for the DFAC staff.

"One of the biggest challenges for the DFAC staff is as soon as they finish the Thanksgiving meal, they have to move onto the next meal prep," he said.