Lifestyle

San Antonio Families Asked to Host Troops For Thanksgiving

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Tony Maples Photography

 

For years, and with very little fanfare, San Antonio families have been graciously welcoming troops into their homes for Thanksgiving. This year, homes in the San Antonio area are asked, once again, to host Thanksgiving meals for troops who are stationed far from home in the San Antonio area.

Express Your Gratitude to a Troop Far From Home

Thanksgiving troops

Photo: Facebook/Operation Home Cooking

San Antonio area families can express their warmth and hospitality to Airmen and trainees at JBSA-Lackland by allowing them an opportunity to enjoy a holiday meal and family atmosphere through Operation Home Cooking.  The program provides the opportunity for area families to share their traditional Thanksgiving celebration with Air Force Airmen and basic trainees. Through the years, San Antonio families have generously opened their homes to these young men and women, recognizing that many are away from home for the first time.

Families within the San Antonio metropolitan area may invite two Airmen/trainees as a “General Request” beginning in November. To request a trainee under the “By Name Request” program, you must be an immediate family member (e.g., mother, father, sister, brother, or grandparent) and live in the San Antonio Metropolitan area.

Home to One of the Nation’s Largest Active Military Populations

military base

Photo: Flickr/Rob Schleiffert

San Antonio is home to several military bases. The 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, is the largest training wing in the United States Air Force. The wing operates nine schools throughout the country with most of the training of 90,000 students being held in San Antonio.

Operation Home Cooking at Lackland Air Force Base is in its 42nd year. It sent 3,660 airmen off the base in 2016 to have dinner with area families, most of them airmen in basic training, said Bob Rubio, chief spokesman for the 37th Training Wing.

Registration for the program is ongoing through November 22. Please call  (210) 671-5453, (210) 671-5454 or (210)-671-3701 for more information or visit the Operation Home Cooking website.