The Dartmouth Friends of the Elderly created its annual veterans lunch as a way to honor the veterans in the community, but attendees at this year’s lunch said it also gives them the opportunity to be with the people who can best understand their life experiences.

“If you are a veteran, especially if you have served in a war zone, people don’t understand what you or your family have gone through,” said Michael Nott, who served in the army for 25 years as a medic.

Joel Burns is from a Gold Star family and joined the service to follow his family’s tradition.

Burns often goes to the veterans lunches and other events for the veterans and now that he’s retired he’s able to go more often.

“It’s nice to get a chance to reminisce and to remember those that make it possible for us to be where we are today,” he said. “We don’t take that for granted.”

David Rogers served in the 7th Cavalry in Vietnam from 1965 to 1967, who recently moved to Dartmouth, said he enjoys going to the veterans lunches for the “camaraderie.”

“Everybody’s nice and it’s an enjoyable lunch,” Rogers said.

Over 100 veterans and family members attended the annual event on Friday, Nov. 1.

“More and more veterans are willing to come out and say, ‘I’m a veteran,’” said Maria Connor, the president of the Dartmouth Friends of the Elderly.

Every year a veteran is honored at the lunch, and this year was no different.

Edward Pimental, who went to Vietnam in 1969, was recognized for his service both abroad and in the community where he did 50 years of service starting in 1967.

“The tough part was, when I left to go to Vienna, my wife was pregnant with my daughter, so I didn’t see her until she was four months old,” Pimental said. “That was a tough part, being away and having a newborn at home, but we survived.”

Among other things, Pimental was elected to the Board of Public Works where he served for around seven years and served on the Recreation Commission for over 25 years.

Pimental is still active in Dartmouth and is currently serving as the clerk at Fire District 1 for his 16th year.

“When you look at a man’s resume, you say, ‘Oh, my God,’ not only did they serve, but they came back to the community and they’re still serving,” Connor said.

Pimental also frequently attends the veterans lunch, in addition to meeting with other old veterans once a month at a coffee hour hosted by the Dartmouth Council on Aging.

“You can talk about what went on and meet old guys,” Pimental said. “It’s nice to stay in contact.”