SAN ANGELO, Texas — Christmas away from home can be hard for anyone, especially if its the first time away from loved ones and holiday traditions.
Men and women from Goodfellow Air Force Base were treated to a San Angelo Christmas tradition Monday at the San Angelo Elks Lodge No. 1880. Each year, the Elks open their doors to host the men and women serving at Goodfellow and for what ever reason, are not able to go home for the holidays.
One of those people was 2nd Lt. Mackenzie Buchanan, who arrived at GAFB Dec. 18.
Buchanan said this was her first time away from her family at Christmas.
"It means a whole lot, I really didn't have any plans today, so being able to come out here and spend some time some newfound friends and get a good meal out of it, I'm very grateful for that," Buchanan said. "It's been a great introduction [to San Angelo] and I'm very grateful for the Elks Lodge."
Buchanan and her fellow servicemembers were treated to a huge meal which included brisket, sausage, ham, turkey and all the fixins, plus tamales, pad Thai and eggrolls. To top that off, all the dessert they could eat.
By noon, 132 meals had been served, including to-go plates delivered to Security Forces at the base, Elks Exalted Ruler, Aaron Nelson said.
Members of the community donated food, desserts and gifts for the event.
Elks Public Relations Chair Harry Thomas said people were driving up to the lodge with food to donate in droves. Not only did they donate food, they donated cash for the Elks to purchase gifts for all GAFB personnel who attended.
"Typically, we'll have 50 to 60 young people up here, and each one of them will get two-to-three presents," Thomas said. "We just want to show them that there's people in West Texas and San Angelo that want to honor them, want to make sure that they've got a great Christmas."
Gifts like wireless speakers, Star Wars items, a variety of gift cards, ear buds and other items just for attending.
But the brisket, Thomas said, always goes over the biggest.
"We'll start with a traditional Christmas dinner, and then we have a little West Texas flair in it because we'll have brisket also, and many of these young people are from different parts of the country that may not have had that opportunity. What we've learned over the last two or three years is that's the first thing that's gone."
It wasn't Chief Master Sgt. Khamillia Washington's first Christmas away from family, but it was her first Christmas in San Angelo, and she said it made a big impression.
"This is huge for me, because I've spent so many times away from home during the holidays. Sometimes you feel like in a lost space, so if you're able to come together and fellowship with fellow servicemembers and people in the community, it just makes it better," Washington said. "I love San Angelo. Small town, but I love the relationship with the community. That's huge. I've never seen that anywhere before in my life."
It takes a lot of people to pull this event off and that's where the Elks and volunteers from the community come into play. People like local businessman, Trey Holmes, who led the invocation before the meal, then rolled up his sleeves and made sure all the servicemembers were greeted and all trash bins were emptied as the meal was going on.
There was even an Elk from Florida in attendance, saying he was in West Texas visiting his son and stopped in to lend a hand.
This is just one of the things the Elks do for active duty servicemembers and veterans. A free breakfast is held once a month for them and all first responders. There are also hamburger lunches for Veterans Day and other events aimed at serving those who are serving and have served in the US Armed Forces.
To learn more about the Elks, click here.
