Sitting on his Army helmet, shoveling rolled turkey into his mouth like it was filet mignon, Steve Meeker doubted that Thanksgiving Day 1968 would go down as one of the most memorable of his life.
But 37 years later, he can still remember those cans of hot turkey and gravy that were dropped by helicopter to his combat platoon in Vietnam.
"It was processed turkey, but nobody cared — we knew it was the last hot food we'd get for a month," he recalls. "I can't remember my holidays from five years ago, but I'll always remember that meal, you bet."
Now Steve, 57, is hoping to make this Thanksgiving a memorable one for those who might otherwise look at the holiday as "just another day."
He wants homeless veterans, families of soldiers overseas and anybody else with no place to spend Thanksgiving next week to know there's a place where they'll be greeted with a warm welcome: Salt Lake City's Veterans Atomic Post 4355.
This year marks the 60th year that the Atomic Post — the first VFW post chartered after the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan — is holding the free, turkey feast.
"We're honored to carry on the tradition," says post commander Tim Burke, also a Vietnam veteran. "We know what it's like to be away from family and friends, sitting in a lonely foxhole in a combat zone, wishing you were somewhere else.
"To be honest," he says, "most veterans don't like holidays. When you're in war, holidays mean nothing. But by putting on this dinner, we can help make the holiday more enjoyable for somebody else."
Hoping to share the importance of the Atomic Post's tradition, Tim, Steve and a few other Vietnam and Korean War veterans recently joined me for a Free Lunch in the post's dining room, where steak and shrimp are dished out every Friday night.
Next week, the buffet will be full of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, salads and pumpkin pie — all cooked and donated by veterans and their wives.
"My wife, Chris, will get up at 3 in the morning, throw a turkey in the oven, then we'll bring it on down at noon," says Steve, who has participated in the ritual for more than 20 years. "I can't think of a better bunch of people to eat Thanksgiving dinner with."
Indeed, many of the post's 450 members are closer to each other than they are to their own families.
"We have a strong bond," says Mike Parkins, senior vice commander for the post. "There's nothing that these guys wouldn't do for me, or me for them."
"We're a brotherhood," adds Tim, who can't hide the softness lurking behind his gruff demeanor. "We brought that camaraderie from overseas. We take care of our own first, but we also look out for the rest of the community."
When most people think of the Atomic Post, says Steve, they picture a smoke-filled bar and little else.
"But we're more than a bar," he says. "We're a second home for people who are alone. And we do projects all year long. Once, a guy needed money for an operation for his dog. Everybody chipped in. For Christmas every year, we have a party for needy kids. So it really is a lot more than a bunch of guys sitting around, drinking. We actually have some pretty good cooks."
He points to Tim, who learned to cook when he was 13 and will be contributing stuffing and gravy this year. Undoubtedly, says Steve, it will be a big improvement upon those canned turkey dinners in 1968.
The Atomic Post's free Thanksgiving feast will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 24, at 135 W. 1300 South.
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