During World War II, thousands of soldiers spent the holidays far from family, stationed at bases across America. This 1943 photograph captures a Thanksgiving dinner at Bridge Camp, showing how the military worked to make holidays feel like home—even in a mess hall thousands of miles away.
The tables stretch long and crowded, laden with turkey and fixings. Men in uniform sit shoulder to shoulder, some smiling, some lost in thought. The smell of gravy and stuffing fills the cavernous room. For one day, the Army tried to give these young men what they'd lost: a table full of familiar food, and each other.
Reflect
What food or holiday tradition makes you feel closest to home when you're far away?