Medal of Honor recipient, Boston veterans gather for lunch at St. Antony’s Shrine

On the last Monday of every month, veterans from around Boston gather to serve and eat lunch at St. Anthony Shrine — a program fostered in part by the continued service of Navy veteran Thomas Kelley.

“Tom wanted to get something started for the veterans here,” said Coast Guard veteran John McMann, another founding volunteer who’s been with the program since its start in July 2016. “And figured this would be appropriate. It’s all about them. Service to them.”

The lunches at St. Anthony Shrine are coordinated with the New England Center and Home for Veterans, Outreach Director Mary Ann Ponti said. Each brings in around 40-50 veterans from around the area for a hot meal.

Volunteers also pointed people to other available services through the Veterans Ministry, including the Franciscan Food Center, the Father Mychal Judge Recovery Center and counseling services.

The meals are staffed by volunteers who are also veterans, frequently including City Council President and Army veteran Ed Flynn.

Monday’s meal is the first following the announcement that Kelley, a Boston native, will receive the distinction of having a Navy destroyer named in his honor earlier in the month.

Kelley was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Richard Nixon following his heroics at a battle at the Mekong River Delta during the Vietnam War that cost him an eye and damaged part of his skull.

Kelley served in the Navy for over 20 years before becoming the Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans Services.

Even now at 83 years old passing out potatoes, Kelley is continuing his service to the veteran community.

“The same people keep coming back, and we get to know them very well,” Kelley said. “It’s just a great, great ministry. Everybody’s welcome here at this church.”

The program builds a sense of community around the tables in the Shrine’s basement. As the groups sat down to eat, veterans answered shout-outs for the different military branches — a large chorus echoing the Army call and smaller hollers for the others.

Sherman Jones, who was born and raised in Roxbury and served as an Army infantryman for six years, was a first-time attendee at Monday’s lunch.

“I’m grateful,” Jones said, sitting at a table with two other vets and stirring his coffee. “These people are doing good work. I’m just grateful for these people.”

©2023 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at bostonherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.