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Local Soldiers Prepare Thanksgiving Meals For Needy Families

MT. PLEASANT (KDKA) -- Local soldiers spent the entire year serving our country, but Thursday, they served our community in another way.

Company C of the 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division of the PA Army National Guard. The unit's motto: "Make it happen," unit commander Lt. Col. Richard Collage said. "And it's been around for a long time … It embodies that can-do attitude."

The storied unit has seen action in nearly every combat zone Americans have fought in. Thursday, however, their mission was support in nature: prepare and deliver Thanksgiving meals to the needy of Westmoreland County.

"Any time we can give back to the community and do something like this, we're just so proud and happy to do it," Collage said.

And they sure do it right, starting back in the kitchen.

"[It's been] busy," kitchen commander Susan Sapura said. "We had the calm before the storm. Now, we're starting the dinners, and that's when we have to push. 27 turkeys were stuffed last night. There was about 150 pounds [of potatoes] some local VFW guys peeled last night and cut."

The whole objective is to run this like a military operation. On a board, they have assigned drivers, prep and depart times, and so forth. But that has to match up with what's going on back in the kitchen.

"We got a 5-paragraph order going with this thing," Collage said. "It works for an operation like this as well as it does in the field."

They've been doing this for 25 years. Thanks to these soldiers, family members and unit retirees, 239 people across Westmoreland County will enjoy a hot Thanksgiving meal.

"That's what we do," Iraq veteran SSGT Ken Hubble said. "That's what we're here for. National Guard is about helping people in need. It's just another way we can do it."

Making it happen with mashed potatoes, turkey and stuffing.

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