NEWBURYPORT — Eager to mingle and enjoy a free meal, veterans from various eras converged on Hope Community Church on Tuesday where members of the community served them during the 15th annual Yankee Homecoming Veterans Luncheon.
“Yankee Homecoming is such a wonderful week here in Newburyport,” Mayor Sean Reardon said. “Obviously, we’re very proud of our city here, so it’s nice to highlight the city, and highlight different parts of the city, and this luncheon is just a highlight each and every year.”
Reardon was one of two guest speakers to address the dozens of veterans who packed the church, exchanging war stories and enjoying a meal of chicken, rolls and potato salad. The spread was cooked by volunteers and served by members of U.S. Coast Guard Station Merrimack River.
“Honoring our veterans is so, so important,” Reardon said. “It’s very close to home to me. My brother-in-law right now is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force. He actually just got promoted to brigadier general.”
Following Reardon was state Executive Office of Veterans’ Services Secretary Jon Santiago, who gave a shout-out to local veterans service officers for their unsung work.
“For those of you who may be unaware, these are the front-line folks who are working on behalf of the cities and towns, getting veterans access to care, benefits at the state and federal level,” Santiago said.
One veteran who attended the event was 74-year-old Gary Roy, who served in the Navy during the Iraq War.
“I got mobilized shortly after 9/11,” he explained. “I did a year of Guard duty in Brunswick, Maine, and I served onboard a vessel called the Joint Venture.”
Among those joining him was Army veteran Charlie LaBella.
LaBella, 78, served during the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1970.
“Most of these guys I’ve known for years, they always wanted me to join,” he said. “I never really felt comfortable, but I finally did, and you get to meet guys that once you see each other, you know what’s going on, you know you all had the same type of experiences.”
Luncheon co-Chair Carole Appleton said it is the first year she and fellow co-Chair Jan Kolman’s ran the event.
“Every day, veterans should be appreciated,” Appleton said.
She thanked Santiago for coming to speak.
“It’s pretty awesome to have him come to Newburyport and meet all our folks,” Appleton said.
Prior to the lunch, a resource fair was held as a new addition to the annual event with representatives from dozens of organizations in attendance.
Jacqueline Torres, health care navigator for Veterans Northeast Outreach Center, was among those who veterans could talk to during the fair. Torres said she loves seeing any event that helps bring veterans together.
“I think it’s great. I think veterans tend to isolate a lot,” she said. “So getting them out, getting them to socialize, I think it’s great for them.”
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.