Marshfield veterans find friendships like no others in weekly lunches at Brant Rock Hop

MARSHFIELD − It was a new year and a bigger lunch crowd than usual at the Brant Rock Hop.

On one side of the dining room, a dozen men, most in their 70s, clustered around available tables. More were arriving and space was running out.

The men are all veterans of the Vietnam or Korean wars. The military logos on their hats, jackets and shirts gave their particulars.

Watching them arrive, two women seated at a table moved to empty seats at the lunch counter. The gentlemen thanked them, and 15 veterans sat down to enjoy their time together at five tables pushed together in a long row.

"I look forward to this all week," Paul Landry, 75, of Marshfield, said. A Navy veteran, he served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1971.

Older, wiser in a kinder, gentler world: Elders who inspired us in 2022

A Good Age: For Weymouth writers, their best muse is often one another

Several days later, Landry posted this message on the Marshfield Forum Facebook page:

"Every Tuesday a bunch of us old veterans get together for lunch at The Hop. Last Tuesday (Jan. 3), we had a few more than usual and while waiting to see how many more were going to arrive, two very gracious ladies let us use their table and had their lunch at the counter.

"That kindness alone would warrant this 'thank you.' BUT when we received our check, our lady friends had paid a very generous portion of it!!!! My hope is this post will somehow reach them and they will know all of us say 'THANK YOU.'"

A snapshot of the long row of men with two waitresses was included.

I dropped by The Hop at 269 Ocean St. the following Tuesday. Walking in, I met Ray Gajewski, 79, of Marshfield, a new member back for his second lunch, drawn by the fellowship. This time, 17 veterans showed up for lunch.

Landry had heard from one of the two women, who wanted to remain anonymous. The Marshfield Office of Veterans Services, with director Carin Paulette and assistant director Lisa Potts, reached out to her and she told Potts both of their fathers had served in the military and giving up their seats had just "seemed like the right thing to do."

A simple, meaningful act of generosity can inspire others. Christine Dunn, the group's regular waitress at The Hop, said in the past other customers have paid for a veteran's meal and it shows "they appreciate everything the veterans have done for us."

The Brant Rock Hop owners, Nick and Shannon Drosopoulos, of Marshfield, said they're happy to give the vets the space.

"They're a great group, so kind and friendly," Shannon said.

Landry and a handful of veterans began meeting for lunch a few years ago at the Marshfield Senior Center. COVID stopped that, and when pandemic restrictions eased, Landry suggested trying a nearby restaurant. A dozen or more show up each Tuesday at The Hop; veterans of all ages are welcome.

Asked what draws them, the men all mentioned similar benefits: camaraderie, new friendships, shared laughter, useful information, practical tips on veterans issues and "someplace to go."

"You talk to other veterans about things and they understand what you are talking about," Barney Dowd, 79, of Marshfield, said.

"The same kind of problems," Doug Brown, 72, agreed.

Both served in Vietnam, Brown on a river patrol boat with the Green Berets. The two have become friends and vacationed in Aruba together.

Steve Pineault, 78, of Marshfield; Ed Raymond, 75, of Scituate; Mike Burke, 79, of Duxbury; and Malcolm Gale, 73, of Marshfield, are also Vietnam veterans.

"It's a good group here and we've done a lot of the same things," Raymond, a former Marine, said.

Gale finds the others "easy to get along with," as does Mike Acheson, 73, of Pembroke.

"These are guys I can relate to," Acheson said.

The two oldest were Korean War veterans: Bob Griffin, 86, commander of the Korean War Veterans Association, and Philip Drosdik, 87, of Duxbury.

"I like veterans because I think we have a special loyalty to our country," said Drosdik, who finds the Korean War Veterans Association "an opportunity to serve our country a second time."

The others included Ed Timlin, 78, with the Navy Seabees in Vietnam; Bill Doyle, 78, who served in the Air Force from 1964 to 1968; and Ed Sullivan, 77, of Marshfield, a Navy SEAL in Vietnam. Sullivan is board chair for Marshfield's Veterans Memorial Park and finds that in the lunch group, "we can depend on each other for different things."

It is important, Potts said, to encourage veterans to connect with one another.

"And for us, it's a real chance to pass along information about benefits that are available that they may not know about," she said.

A Good AgeMarried 74 years, Pat and Veronica Pastuszak craft independence at home in Abington

Marshfield kicks off new lifelong learning session

The Marshfield Senior Center launches its winter lifelong learning session with registration beginning Tuesday, Jan. 24, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at 230 Webster St. Registration continues at the front desk. Classes include ballroom dance, beginner watercolors, introduction to chess, fairy tales and the authors behind them, Pilates, the Chinese healing arts, acting and more. Full payment is due at registration with cash or a check payable to the Marshfield Council on Aging. Prices range from $25 to $60, including supplies. For more information, see marshfieldseniorcenter.org or call 781-834-5581.

Reach Sue Scheible at sscheible@patriotledger.com.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer. 

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Korean, Vietnam veterans build new friendships at the Brant Rock Hop