Everyone from school-age children to politicians extended their thanks to veterans.

Local and state officials gathered at the senior center Friday morning to honor Dartmouth’s war veterans. The annual breakfast was sponsored by Dartmouth’s Council on Aging, The Friends of the Elderly and Representative Chris Markey.

The room was packed with about 120 people as food was served. Elementary students from DeMello Elementary wrote thank-you notes to the veterans, which were hanging on the walls. Some were laminated and used as placemats for the breakfast.

The various speakers extended their thanks to everyone who served.

“There’s not a day that goes by where someone in the House of Representatives speaks to someone in their district who is somewhere, fighting the good fight,” said Representative Markey. “All I can say is I hope I can live up to what you’ve done and my children can live up to what you’ve done.”

During the ceremony, members of the Veteran’s Advisory Board presented 89-year-old World War II veteran William Whipp with a citation for his service. Whipp, who was unable to attend the breakfast on account of an injury, was also honored by Congressman Bill Keating.

Keating awarded Whipp with a Congressional Record, an official document to be stored at the House of Representatives.

“If we don’t look back and appreciate the contributions of veterans, then we can’t move forward without fully realizing what our own obligations are,” said Keating. “The room is full of people who have made great contributions.”

He noted that many war veterans will return to their hometowns and become active members of local government. Whipp formerly served on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The breakfast helps honor veterans, but it also gives those who served a chance to connect, catch up and share stories. Don Bernier, 91, attended the event with his daughter, Beth Kilanowich.

Bernier said he enlisted in World War II on a whim.

He and four of his friends from church bet each other that they wouldn’t sign up. The group made their way to a recruitment center in New Bedford to acquire the paperwork needed to enlist.

“We had to take papers home. When I brought the papers, my mother almost killed me. But I went anyway,” said Bernier. “I went into the service when I was 17 years old.”

At the time, he was a student at the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School. He dropped out, joined the Navy and found himself far from home.

“We were at war all the time. I came home twice in four years,” he said. “I was on an aircraft carrier, a real big ship. Every day the planes took off, and we stood near the guns.”

Bernier and his fellow recruits would get small breaks on shore for five or six hours – enough time to grab a beer – before heading back to duty. His 19-year-old grandson enlisted in the Navy about a year ago, and Bernier has noticed a difference in how service life has changed.

The biggest difference? Staying connected with those back at home. When he was in the Navy, he couldn’t text or Skype his parents, a luxury his grandson experiences.

“It wasn’t like it is today,” he said.

Roy Oliveira, who works as the Veteran’s Service Officer for the town, used the meal as an opportunity to remind veterans about the services available to them.

“The State has a financial assistance program for indigent veterans who are struggling month to month, living off their social security income,” said Oliveira. “With that, if they qualify for the benefits, they also might qualify for reimbursements for co-pays for doctors visits [or] prescriptions. It’s a good program.”

Oliveira is also available for those with questions regarding Veterans Affairs benefits. He can help those needed to file a claim with Veterans Affairs navigate the paperwork. His office is on the third floor of town hall.

Maria Connor, the president of Friends of the Elderly, was last to speak during the event. She said she's seen many of her family members serve over her lifetime.

“It’s a great time to say thank you, but it’s more of a privilege to be among you,” she said.