These days, it often seems like members of the United States military do not get the respect that they deserve in this country. That’s why it was so heartwarming to see an entire community in Oklahoma come together to help seven hundred soldiers who were left stranded after a winter storm.

The soldiers were left stranded for 24 hours in an airport, and the people of Oklahoma City teamed up to make sure that they had proper meals and full stomachs during their time there.

“Oklahomans have the biggest heart that I know, and last night was just absolutely amazing, you know, calls and people asking ‘How do we help you?,’” said Josh Ryan of Will Rogers World Airport. “Just like when they leave for holiday block leave to spend the holidays with their families — when they come back, Ft. Sill personnel are here to collect them to get them on buses.”

“Obviously, with the inclement weather, we didn’t want to risk soldiers’ safety sending buses back down to Ft. Sill from here, and so we housed them here overnight,” added Captain John English, who is stationed at Fort Sill.

David Holt, the mayor of Oklahoma City, was not surprised when he heard what his community had done for the soldiers.

“It’s the Oklahoma Standard to make sure that people have a good experience here in Oklahoma City, especially people like our U.S. Army soldiers,” Holt said. “This is not what they expected. They didn’t expect to spend the night sleeping on the floor at WRWA. So, a lot of people have rallied.”

God bless the people of Oklahoma City for coming together to help our U.S. soldiers!