DES MOINES, Iowa — The American Veterans treated dozens of hospitalized veterans to an early Thanksgiving dinner, Sunday. Volunteers set the table for about 70 Iowa veterans.

“We’re feeding an army here,” joked AMVETS Post 2 Commander Cliff Corson.

It takes an army of volunteers to feed them all. AMVETS Post 2 members spent the 24-hours cooking 15 turkeys, 50 pounds of potatoes and all of the fixings.

“It makes me feel good and then they tell us how good it is,” said Polly Smith.

The Post has opened its doors to veterans in the hospital and at veterans homes every Thanksgiving for the last four decades.

“We believe in helping our fellow veterans and this is a way we can give back to them and show our appreciation for them,” said Corson.

The buses arrived at 11 a.m. The men and women came from the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown and from across town at the Des Moines VA Hospital.

“It’s just nice to be thought of and have something like this put on for us, it’s a good deal,” said veteran Bob Burris.

The Thanksgiving dinner normally costs about $8,000. This year, AMVETS Post 2 says the turkey and all the fixings were donated.