Among the millions who will be taking to the skies this Thanksgiving week, members of the United States’ armed forces will be traveling through the country’s airports to visit loved ones and, in many cases, returning from active duty overseas. Several Delaware North-operated airports have made special plans to honor these servicemen and servicewomen by providing Thanksgiving Day meals as they make their way through the airport.
“Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reflect and remember the sacrifices so many men and women in our military have made to keep us safe,” said Kevin Kelly, president of Delaware North’s travel business. “Our teams are proud to provide a great meal to the active military members who will be traveling through our airports during the Thanksgiving holiday; it’s a small token of gratitude for their service to our country.”
Delaware North teams at Los Angeles International Airport, Richmond International Airport and Ontario International Airport will be cooking and serving free Thanksgiving Day meals for all active duty military members at their airport’s United Service Organization’s (USO) outpost on Thanksgiving Day. The Delaware North team at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will be donating more than 40 pounds of roasted turkey to their airport’s USO post as well.
The Nashville International Airport team will be serving up a free meal for military members at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Concourse C, and also providing a discounted meal ($5.99) to all airport and airline personnel who are working Thanksgiving Day.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will be offering a free entrée and drink for active duty military members at Delaware North-operated restaurants from Monday, Nov. 21, through Sunday, Nov. 27. Participating locations at the airport include: Annie’s Café, Earl Campbell’s Sports Bar, Hill’s Café, Hoover’s Chicken, Mangia Pizza, Maudie’s TexMex, Neuvo Leon, Saxon Pub, SaltLick BBQ and Schlotzsky’s Deli.
Tampa International Airport and TPA Hospitality Partners is offering a similar appreciation meal for military members, who can enjoy a free meal at RumFish Grill, Four Green Fields, Chick-fil-A, Plane Box kiosk or Auntie Anne’s.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport will be providing a meal to the hard-working security personnel by cooking a traditional buffet-style Thanksgiving dinner for more than 260 police and TSA officers who work at the airport.
“The holidays are the busiest time of the year at airports, and no one knows that better than the men and women keeping us all safe,” Kelly said. “It’s also tough being away from family on Thanksgiving, so we wanted to prepare a great meal to remind those working at our airports that we are endlessly thankful for the tough and diligent work they do each day.”