The U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence is inviting local families to host soldiers for Thanksgiving Day as part of its “Mission Thanksgiving” event.

For the second year in a row, the “Mission Thanksgiving” event for Joint Base San Antonio and Fort Sam Houston is canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.

SAN ANTONIO – The COVID-19 pandemic has canceled another Joint Base-San Antonio Thanksgiving tradition. Due to COVID-19 safety guidelines, Department of Defense civilians, retirees and family members will not be able to dine or attend the Thanksgiving meal served across JBSA dining facilities, a news release said. This is the latest holiday tradition to affect JBSA. “Mission Thanksgiving,” a popular holiday program where San Antonio community members provide a home-cooked meal to soldiers in medical training at Fort Sam Houston, was canceled to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In addition, “Operation Home Cooking” and “Operation Family Feast,” two similar Thanksgiving meal programs for Airmen in basic military training and technical training was called off due to COVID-19.

SAN ANTONIO – Fort Sam Houston officials announced Monday that a popular holiday program where San Antonio community members provide a home-cooked meal to soldiers in medical training, would be canceled this year to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “Mission Thanksgiving” has been a tradition at Fort Sam Houston for more than 20 years, officials said. Last week, the 37th Training Wing announced the cancellation of “Operation Home Cooking” and “Operation Family Feast,” other similar programs for Airmen in basic military training and technical training. “We truly appreciate the hospitality the San Antonio community shows our soldiers during Thanksgiving, currently the risk is too high - our number one priority is to protect the health and readiness of the force,” LeMaster said. “We look forward to continuing this worthwhile tradition next Thanksgiving.”Related: San Antonio couple welcomes airmen, soldiers to enjoy home-cooking on Thanksgiving