FORT BLISS, Texas--Thanksgiving is a day for Families to be together and give thanks for what they have. However, there are always Soldiers who cannot go home to be with their family for this holiday.
Soldiers enjoyed a special Thanksgiving meal at the Command Sgt. Maj. Stafford Dining Facility, November 27.
The dining facility served a special lunch to Soldiers, their Families and military veterans.
The dining facility Soldiers worked for two months to convert and make the decorations for the special meal. A team of eight Soldiers converted the dining facility into a veritable Thanksgiving wonderland, said Sgt. 1st Class Christ Nielsen, a food service non-commissioned officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery.
The chow hall was split into two themes; one side was decorated in the traditional Thanksgiving manner with a large replica of one of Christopher Columbus' boats, an Indian campfire, a gingerbread house and three ice sculptures. The other side was decorated in a more western theme including a gingerbread house designed like one of the missions in El Paso, said Nielsen.
"The Soldiers at the dining facility went above and beyond all expectations," said Command Sgt Maj. Jimmie Nelson, the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade command sergeant major. "The dAfAcor, theme, displays and food are all amazing, kudos to all the cooks."
The meal consisted of all kinds of Thanksgiving treats including turkey, ham, yams, macaroni and cheese, and all manners of deserts imaginable.
"This is hands down the best meal I have had in a chow hall since I joined the Army," said Pvt. Shawn Thompson, a patriot missile systems operator in Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery. "The music and dAfAcor gives this a real restaurant atmosphere and the food is the best I have eaten in a while."
Another treat for the Soldiers was being served their Thanksgiving meal by their chain of command. Command teams from all over Fort Bliss came to the dining facility to serve their Soldiers.
"Soldiers have a hard road and not being able to make it home to be with their family can make it even harder," said Maj. Joseph McCallion, the 11th ADA Bde. operations officer. "I was deployed last Thanksgiving and I understand the sacrifices that we sometimes have to make. I am honored to be here to serve these Soldiers."
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