PHILADELHIA (CBS) - It’s a Turkey Day tradition for troops in South Jersey.

Soldiers training at Fort Dix are away from their families, so one South Jersey family has made it their mission to give a meal to remember:

“The troops have no idea where they’re going. They’re just told that they’re going somewhere for lunch. They have no idea what’s going to be there when they get there.”

Marshall Spevak’s family started the Thanksgiving Dinner surprise seven years ago, and he hopes to have a cheering section of 300 strong when the buses arrive:

“Rain or shine. We ask that people get there about 10:30 because we are expecting a big crowd and that’s our biggest need. Just come out, support the troops, it means so much to them.”

This year’s event is being held at America’s Best Value Inn on Route 70 in Cherry Hill at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

Reported By Mike Dougherty, KYW Newsradio