But yesterday? Well, nothing had prepared them for what they saw.

Their buses pulled up shortly before noon to a catering hall in Cherry Hill, where nearly 200 troops from the Army, Air Force, and Navy expected a simple Thanksgiving Day lunch.

What awaited them had tears spilling from Army public affairs Spec. Christina Dion's eyes before she even had stepped off her bus.

"Wow!" is all the 32-year-old mother of three from Winston-Salem, N.C., could muster from her front seat.

Outside, 500 strangers lined both sides of the 50-yard-long driveway at America's Best Value Inn. Parents with young children, motorcycle club members, Boy and Girl Scouts, and military veterans were among those who formed an adoring phalanx that ran from the curb at Route 70 to the catering hall's entrance at the base of a soft slope of pavement.

They clapped, whistled, and waved American flags. And they extended a hand to each service member as he or she passed by in camouflage combat uniform and ankle-high boots. Some in the crowd shouted out wishes of "Happy Thanksgiving," but many more cried out "Thank you!" and "Thanks for your service!"

By the time the troops, currently stationed at Fort Dix, had made their way inside the banquet room decorated with red, white, and blue balloons, many had collected fistfuls of cards, homemade posters, and even packs of chewing gum that were tucked in their palms amid the handshakes.

By the time Dion, who will be in Afghanistan for one year, had reached her table, she had lost her composure.

"It makes our sacrifice worthwhile," she said as tears streamed down her face.

Standing at his table - following military protocol in not sitting until all had assembled and were invited to be seated - Sean Reynolds, a weatherman in the Air Force from Omaha, Neb., seemed astonished as he scanned the room packed with linen-covered tables and fumbled with a greeting card from someone he did not know.

"This is overwhelming," said the 31-year-old father of a son, 9, and a daughter, 7, who expects to be in Afghanistan for six months. "To know there are people out there supporting our troops is amazing."

"Awesome," is how a wide-eyed and wide-smiling Air Force Master Sgt. Kelly York, 39, from Los Angeles, summed up the surprise.

It got even more so when the troops learned that they were headed to a Sixers game tonight - compliments of the team.

The luncheon, sponsored by Jewish War Veterans Post 126 and the Spevak family of Cherry Hill, has been held for troops at Fort Dix the last six Thanksgivings, said Michelle Spevak.

"It's so gratifying," said her father, Eric.

Waiting in the parking lot for the buses to arrive, Bernard Epworth, New Jersey State commander of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, grew emotional as he explained the motivation behind spending part of a holiday pampering troops.

"These people are defending our country, defending our honor," Epworth said, his eyes moist. "This is the least we can do."

Later, his son-in-law, Jay Weinberger, an anesthesiologist from New York, was trying to express that sentiment to Senior Airman Matthew Marentette, 26, from Mount Pleasant, Mich., as they stood together in the banquet room.

"Your sacrifice is huge," is all Weinberger managed to get out before becoming too choked up to continue. A grateful Marentette moved off to his table, saying he, too, was struggling with his emotions and "didn't want to get started."

Holding his 6-year-old son, Sam, and openly weeping, Weinberger tried to put into words why he was so emotional.

"The United States [military] literally saved my parents' lives, liberated them from a concentration camp," Weinberger said.

As he took in the roomful of troops, he added:

"We owe them such a great debt and they're thankful we come out for two hours. It's incredible."