SAN ANTONIO — For 11 years, people have lined up outside Javelina Harley Davidson in Boerne. They've all waited for the sound of motocycles coming up I-10.

It means dozens of Air Force trainees are getting closer to the Thanksgiving lunch for many have worked all year to prepare. For many trainees, this is the first time they've been away from home for a holiday.

They didn't expect they'd be eating all this.

"It's very good. Super appreciative and really happy to have a real meal. A real Thanksgiving meal," said Nathaniel Haar of Fort Worth.

"This is very nice and it's nice that our brothers and sisters are here enjoying it with us and other people that don't even know us," said Bernisha Colquitte of Virginia.

Every detail dedicated especially to them. Letters written by local elementary children covered the tables. Cell phones were handed out so everyone could hall home.

"It's hard but I know what I signed up to do. To defend our country. It's hard though. This is so beautiful," said Corneisha Carter of Louisiana. 

And what makes this gesture even more special for trainees is that the ones serving up the meals appreciate the soldiers as much as the soldiers appreciate them.

"Most of them are homesick and they really need this time away so its a privilege for us to help serve these young guys and gals," said Neil King who has been volunteering for six years.

For volunteers this is the new family gathering.

"It has become our five-year activity. I bring my daughters who are 29 and 30," said Teresa Benedetti who has been volunteering for five years.

There may be new faces each year. But there's always plenty of thanksgiving to go around.

"To know they're away from their family and to know they are giving everything they got to try to serve this country, there is not a greater gift that we can give than our service back to them," said Benedetti.