ESCAMBIA COUNTY - While many of us are preparing big Thanksgiving dinners for family, some local vets are getting ready to serve those active military members away from home.

The American Legion Post on Gulf Beach Highway is empty now, but Thursday it's going to be a Thanksgiving hot spot for dozens of men and women in uniform.

With each chop and grate, Edie Herrington and her fellow members at the American Legion are one step closer to finishing preparations for a feast.

"We're getting ready for a big Thanksgiving tomorrow. We usually have a pretty good crowd."

She says the special guests are the men and women stationed in Pensacola. They plan to serve about eighty.

"We're making chicken with dressing. For a lot of them, this will be their first time away from home, and we want to make sure they get a good dinner to remember."

"I will pick the young troops up at eleven at NATTC."

Veteran Jim Fourniers says the volunteers see it as a labor of love.

"We have all been there, and we know how these kids feel--away from home, away from their loved ones, and we really try to make them a little bit more comfortable."

He says it's an annual tradition. All the food is donated.

"Nothing is ever like home, but it gets them away from the base for a day, and you have a good turkey dinner and shoot pool, and just enjoy themselves for the day."

About twenty members are putting the feast on.

"Women my age, I have the natural instinct to nurture, so give me someone to take care of, I'll be there."

The post is also inviting veterans with no family to come by for a meal. The food is being served at noon.

Also serving meals to veterans Thursday is the American Legion Post 44 in Gulf Shores.

From 12 to 4, veterans can go to 6781 Gulf Shores Parkway for a free meal.

The American Legion expects to serve meals to about 300 people Thursday.Local American Legion Serving Free Thanksgiving to Troops, Vets