U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mikaley Kline

Airman 1st Class Natalie Corona, 99th Force Support Squadron food service apprentice, prepares garlic bread to be served for dinner at the Crosswinds Dining Facility on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 18.  The Crosswinds DFAC will be serving Thanksgiving meals to Airmen and Department of Defense ID cardholders on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26.

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — For Airmen residing in the dorms who don’t have the opportunity to spend time with their families, the holidays can be a lonely time.
The 99th Force Support Squadron’s Crosswinds Dining Facility will be preparing a Thanksgiving Day meal for these Airmen on Nov. 26.
“I believe that doing this for Airmen who are not able to go home to spend this day with family will make them feel closer to home,” said Master Sgt. Shirley Williams, 99th FSS Crosswinds DFAC manager.
Traditionally, commanders, chiefs, first sergeants and installation leadership assist food service personnel each year in serving the Thanksgiving Day meal.
“I believe providing a meal for our Airmen is good for the hard-working Airmen who are away from their family and friends,” said Airman 1st Class Grant Escalera, 99th FSS Crosswinds DFAC apprentice. “I think that having this meal will show them that even though they are away from their immediate family, they will always have the Air Force family to take care of them.”
Airman 1st Class Sidney Williams, 99th FSS Crosswinds DFAC apprentice, believes the holiday meal will help boost morale.
“Thanksgiving is about being with your family, giving thanks, and eating good food. Having a meal provided helps the Airmen not focus so much on not being with their blood family, but showing them we are a family,” she said. “Without a doubt, doing this for us, the Airmen living in the dorms especially, boosts morale. Holidays are hard if your family is across the country like mine are, and doing things like this helps a lot.”
The Thanksgiving Day lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the dinner will be served from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The meal is available to Airmen, all Department of Defense ID card holders, as well as retirees and their family members. The cost is $8 per person.
For more information on the Thanksgiving Day celebration, contact the Crosswinds DFAC at 702-652-6741.