Christmas at the Flora-Bama

It’s a Christmas tradition for people away from home. For the last ten years the Flor-Bama’s been opening its doors for a pot-luck Christmas meal.

“Every year I start off with the same philosophy,” says bar co-owner Joe Gilchrist. “What can you do to make the world a little bit nice for people and teach people to be nicer to each other?” Part of the meal is a special invitation to nearby military men and women. Today, about a dozen freshly trained marines are coming in for some food.

Many of them are far from home this holiday. Private Seth Mathias is from Ohio. He says he’s never been away from home for this long. He says it’s an honor to see so many people giving them a hand this season.

”It's odd being away from your family for the first time,” says Mathias. “Being away from them for three to four months at a time when you've never been away for more than a week or so. It's a new experience.” Gilchrist says this is something he’s happy to take part in.

”First of all they deserve everybody's respect,” says the owner. “More importantly, we're in a position where we can do that and show them some respect and we're glad to do it.”