Annual Veteran's luncheon welcomes around 200 guests
Robert Brown gives a speech. Photos by Kat Sheridan
The Auxiliary Color Guard presents a donation to the Friends of the Elderly. 
Members of the Vocational Technical High School give a gift to Robert Brown. 
Matthew Brouillette from the Veteran's Service office shows the plaque they gave Robert Brown. 
Heidi Silva-Brooks of the Select Board reads off Robert Brown's accomplishments. 
A representative for Mark Montigny gives Robert Brown a citation. 
A representative for Bill Keating gives Robert Brown a citation. 
Robert Brown receives a standing ovation. 
Chris Markey gives Robert Brown a citation. 
The Dartmouth Color Guard. 
Hats from the different military branches. 
The Buttonwood Brass Band.
Robert Brown gives a speech. Photos by Kat Sheridan
The Auxiliary Color Guard presents a donation to the Friends of the Elderly.
Members of the Vocational Technical High School give a gift to Robert Brown.
Matthew Brouillette from the Veteran's Service office shows the plaque they gave Robert Brown.
Heidi Silva-Brooks of the Select Board reads off Robert Brown's accomplishments.
A representative for Mark Montigny gives Robert Brown a citation.
A representative for Bill Keating gives Robert Brown a citation.
Robert Brown receives a standing ovation.
Chris Markey gives Robert Brown a citation.
The Dartmouth Color Guard.
Hats from the different military branches.
The Buttonwood Brass Band.
Around 200 veterans and their family members showed up at Rachel’s Lakeside for the annual Veteran’s Luncheon on Friday, Nov. 6.
“We started with a breakfast at the Council on Aging many years ago and we ran out of space,” said Maria Connor, the president of the Dartmouth Friends of the Elderly. “Here we are today and it looks like I may run out of space here too.”
The event is sponsored by the Dartmouth Friends of the Elderly and State Representative Chris Markey.
“It’s kind of a tradition that I’ve been doing … since I started,” said Markey, “It’s something that I think is such a small act for all the things that these guys have done, and these women have done. But it’s just a tradition that I’ve always done, and I appreciate the opportunity that they allow me to do.”
Each year at the luncheon, they have the Buttonwood Brass Band welcome the guests in. After some welcoming remarks by Jim Phillips, the posting of colors by the Dartmouth Color Guard and a prayer by Reverend David Lee, Rachel’s serves lunch.
The Dartmouth Auxiliary Guard 9059 also gave a donation to the Dartmouth Friends of the Elderly during the event.
While the guests enjoy dessert, the Veteran of the Year is introduced. This year, they awarded Robert Brown the honor. ‘
Brown served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He was an educator at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. He joined the board for the Veteran’s Transitional House in 2000.
Brown remembers when he first joined the board, the home was in the abandoned hospital. There wasn’t lights, heat or hot water, but those staying there were happy to at least have a place to live.
“It was just a lousy place. They had a roof over their heads and those 15, 20 guys that were living there, they were thrilled to death because they were off the streets,” said Brown.
He added, “Except for the grace of God, I would have had probably been living there.”
In the years he has been there, the organization has expanded to have seven houses to help those returning from combat who need a place to live.
“The house is an unbelievable place,” said Brown, “But I’m getting way, way, way too much credit.”
He was extremely thankful; to those in the community who stood by him, his family and those in government who gave the Veteran’s House money to continue and improve.
He specifically thanked Congressman Bill Keating, who does outreach for the Veteran’s House. Each year, those in the House can access Community Project Funds to fund a project of their choice that meets guidelines. Keating donated $400,000 to the Veteran’s House. They were able to use this on a computer system to keep track of those in the house.
Keating also thanked Senator Mark Montigny, who made the Veteran’s House a yearly state budget item, with its own line number in the early 2000s. Each year, they now know they will be getting state funds.
Brown mentioned Montigny also makes a number of holiday donations; he brings a prime rib dinner for the residents on Christmas Eve and pizzas for Super Bowl Sunday.
He received citations for his service from a number of sources; Markey gave him a citation from the House of Representatives, Keating’s office, Montigny’s office, the Veteran’s Advisory Board, the Select Board and the Dartmouth Friends of the Elderly. Members of the Vocational Technical High School School Committee gave him a bell, to remember his years as an educator.
After listing all those who have stood by him, Brown ended his speech by stating “And I want to thank God for this country,” followed by a standing ovation from the crowd.
