Captain Cliff Scruggs and his wife, Jessica, know what it's like to be away from home on Thanksgiving.  After all, they've relocated several times over the course of Cliff's air force career.

And that's why their doors were wide open this thanksgiving.

"We're just a big family - that's what the air force is, so that's what we're trying to teach our kids," says Jessica.  "Having people over,  get to know other people, get to know maybe what their culture would be or some of their traditions.

Together with their daughters, the Scruggs hosted two training airmen from Sheppards Air Force Base as part of Operation Thanksgiving - a community-wide program that enables airmen to feel the warmth of a home-coming without going home. 

And from the first greeting, there's a great sense of comfort for the guests.

Airmen Basic Terrell Brewer explains, "Since i've been in the air force, it's different for me to just sit down, talk normally and relax."

"I haven't been in a home in a long time, so being in a home is nice," adds Airmen Basic Jessica Montgomery.  "[Jessica Scruggs] already told me whats on the menu and it's going to be great."

The magnificent feast prepared by the Scruggs family was really enough to feed an Air Force - and they were expecting that.  They were hoping to have four or five airmen.  But because 140 families volunteered to welcome people from Sheppards Air Force Base, the Air Force said that's too many, and limited families to just two guests!   So all this food and all these families - that's a pretty good problem.

"We've been looking forward to this since last Thanksgiving," said Capt. Scruggs.  "So we chose not to go anywhere for Thanksgiving holiday on purpose to make certain we can have this opportunity.

His youngest daughter, Rachel, adds, "You can have lots of fun and you can play with them all day long."

So after a hearty meal and good conversation, this Thanksgiving offered a family and their guests fulfilled stomachs - and hearts.

"They have their family - they didn't have to do this on Thanksgiving," said Airmen Montgomery.  "They didn't know us but they invite us into their home, let us become part of their family for the day.  I think it's really great.>

Jonah Kaplan, KAUZ, Texoma's News Station