A group of American patriots met at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois recently and prepared an all-American-raised steak dinner to the men and women who just got home from a deployment in Afghanistan.

It poured rain outside, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of those inside the huge hangar on base as the All-American Beef Battalion fired up their grill and prepared 20-ounce ribeye steaks from the best-raised beef in the country.

Cheesy potatoes, creamed corn, rolls and cookies complemented the U.S. beef as soldiers and their families came through the line to receive their dinner from grateful agriculturalists who thanked them for their service.

It was a humbling experience to see how those who raise the food fed those who fight for us to have the freedom to raise the crops and livestock to feed the world. Each so thankful for the other; it was a proud American moment for everyone.

Bill Broadie, a former Marine who lost a leg in Vietnam and who now spends his days as a Superior Livestock cattle buyer, had the vision to make this happen. He wanted to thank those soldiers who came behind him, especially since he and his comrades were not treated to the same kind of homecoming 50 years ago.

The folks who grilled the meat, mixed up the corn, scooped the potatoes and handed over the cookies did it all with a smile and a sense of complete gratitude. The “regulars” who haul the cooking equipment behind their pickups, from north to south and east to west wherever they are requested to go, are all volunteers.

Not one of them is paid for their time. Their payment comes in the form of a soldier’s smile, or an incredulous “thank you.”

My airman will leave next month on a deployment to Afghanistan unless his orders get changed – and I’m praying they do. When I left him, I hugged him tight as I cried like a baby. As a mom, my heart feels like it’s being torn in two. As an American, I couldn’t be prouder of my son for serving his country.

It was a wonderful weekend spent with two selfless groups of people, both serving our country in their own way.

If you would like to donate to the All-American Beef Battalion, you can find details at their website, www.steaksfortroops.com

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.