Thursday, December 21, 2006; Posted: 3:26 p.m. (CDT)
Some soldiers will spend the holiday season away from their loved ones including a group stationed at Ft. Sill.
While they admit it's tough, they say it is even more challenging for those soldiers in Iraq.
Jonathan Thibault, a soldier stationed at Ft. Sill, says, "What they're doing over there is a lot more than anything I could do here. I'm very proud of those soldiers over there."
Thibault's family lives in Dallas. He has a seven month old baby.
Another soldier stationed locally, Matthew LaBonich says, "There's a lot of people in Iraq who are doing it right now. If they can do it, I can do it."
LaBonich's family lives in Pennsylvania. He has two children.
The two soldiers are among twenty-seven stationed at Ft. Sill, who will be spending the holidays away from home. All have a different reason for staying but whatever the case they are feeling the pressure of being away from home.
Major Mike Hughes says, "It's difficult."
To make it a little easier on the soldiers, some local businesses and attractions gave them a gift.
A couple of days of free fun around downtown Oklahoma City.
A tour of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum was among the events planned for the soldiers.
Major Hughes says, "A lot of people in the Oklahoma community and north Texas have reached out to them this holiday season."
The soldiers also received lunch at Abuelo's and went snow tubing.
On Friday, they will have a chance to see the Hornets game.
Those are just a few of the activities that were given to the soldiers for free.
