Food, friends, and family: PoM community celebrates Thanksgiving

PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. -- More than 900 members of the Presidio of Monterey military community gathered for a traditional holiday meal at Presidio of Monterey's Belas and Combs dining facilities Nov. 26.

The facilities serve students at the Defense Language Institute's Foreign Language Center (DLI-FLC), many of whom are new servicemembers who are spending their first Thanksgiving away from home.

"I'm thankful for all the people I've been able to meet here and spend time with," Airman 1st Class Oliver Cox, a Defense Language Institute -- Foreign Language Center student, said.

Seated across the table from Cox, DLI-FLC student Airman 1st Class Jade Oliver also cited friends as something he is grateful for this year.

"If I didn't have friends here, it would be really tough," he said.

Asked about their holiday plans, DLI-FLC students Pfc. Matthew Ainslee, Pfc. Quamon Richardson, and Pfc. Brock Berfus, all Soldiers, agreed their first priority is studying for their Defense Language Proficiency Tests - which are scheduled for Monday.

After that? Watching football, and "maybe some Black Friday shopping," Richardson said.

The Presidio of Monterey DFACs also serves many military families who are away from their extended families on Thanksgiving, and staff members -- some of whom are first-generation Americans who are just being introduced to the holiday.

Airman Brandon Haley was at Belas DFAC with his wife, Carrie, and their son Brandon. He said he's thankful to have his family with him in Monterey this Thanksgiving.

"I'm just thankful that my family can be here with me, that we have a house here and a good life," he said.

His wife, Carrie, also said family is what she's most grateful for this year.

"I'm thankful for this one," she said, pointing to their son, Aiden. "And this one," she said, pointing at her belly.

The couple is expecting a daughter in March.

Buoutaina Rouissi, an employee at the Ord Military Community commissary, brought her extended family to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with her on post.

Son Zachiara Benbich, parents Roussi Omar and Touriwa Belghazi, and brother Nadir Rouissi joined her at Belas dining facility for the holiday meal.

"I'm grateful for this country, that provides us with security, and food, for my health, and having my family here," Rouissi said.

The family is originally from Morocco. Rouissi, her parents, and her son are first-generation Americans, and Nadir is studying to take the citizenship exam.

"I served in the Army, and now I continue to serve in a different way (as a civilian)," she said. "The Army is my other family, now."