San Antonio Community Comes Together to Support Those Who Serve on Thanksgiving Day
SAN ANTONIO – Separation from loved ones during the holidays can be especially difficult for service members, but the San Antonio community is stepping in to show its support. As part of the Operation Home Cooking Thanksgiving program, local families are opening their homes to U.S. Air Force trainees like Andrew Garcia, who is celebrating his first Thanksgiving away from family. Garcia found solace in the warm embrace of Rose Stevens’ family dinner, a tradition she has upheld for over 28 years.
Stevens, among many volunteers with JBSA-Lackland, welcomes trainees into her home each year, ensuring that they do not spend the holiday alone. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to make the trainees part of her family, saying, We’re just so blessed to get to know them all. The program, now in its 48th year, offers San Antonio families residing within Loop 1604 the chance to share the holiday with trainees who are in their sixth or seventh week of basic training.
Beyond Operation Home Cooking, the holiday spirit of support extends throughout San Antonio. Soldiers’ Angels, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting military personnel and veterans, has already received pledges for over 40,000 stockings to be distributed this year. These stockings, packed since August, serve as a small taste of home for deployed service members who will be away from family during the holidays.
Amy Palmer, the president and CEO of Soldiers’ Angels, acknowledged the challenges faced by those actively serving and veterans alike during the holiday season. She emphasized the significance of the stockings, stating that they provide a sense of comfort and familiarity to the deployed service members. Palmer also noted that for veterans, the holidays can be a time of reflection and grieving as they process their experiences.
San Antonio’s unwavering commitment to supporting its military community shines brightly during the festive season. From providing a home-cooked meal to a trainee longing for family, to stuffing stockings with care, the community’s acts of kindness and generosity demonstrate the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Through their support, both on and off the battlefield, San Antonians remind us all of the importance of gratitude and compassion during the holiday season and beyond.
