STONINGTON - After thanking all of the veterans gathered at Stonington High School Thursday night for their time in uniform, former Republican Congressman Rob Simmons of Stonington also thanked them for taking off their uniforms and returning to civilian life.

"If freedom and democracy is worth dying for, it's also worth living for," he told them.

Simmons, a Vietnam veteran and U.S. Senate hopeful, was speaking at an appreciation dinner for veterans put on by Stonington High School's student government.

About 100 people had planned to attend the free dinner, according to student government advisor Richard Walter. The event had begun to thin out the past few years, and Walter said he was glad to see the many veterans who came for dinner this year.

The event was open to past or present military in the area, and Stonington residency was not a requirement.

"We're not picky," Walter said. "If you served us, we serve you."

The event was put on by the 40 students in the school's student government. Dressed in black slacks and white shirts, they served punch, turkey dinners, and pumpkin pie to the hungry veterans and their spouses. The students seemed proud to be working the dinner.

"We're helping our community and also our veterans," said freshman Lauren Eisenbeis. "They helped serve our country and also the world, so they should be appreciated for their deeds."

"It's a really nice thing to do," added sophomore Clark Chapman. "They've done a lot for our country."

The students had decorated the tables with red, white and blue settings, and added school-themed centerpieces. Many tables had placemats made from the laminated artwork of the town's elementary school students. A typical placemat, drawn by third-grader Noah from West Broad Street School, read "You are so brave I can't believe how brave you are! Thank you for saving our country! Yay!"

The appreciation given by the students was returned by the veterans in attendance.

"Very good," said Dennis Thibodeau, of Pawcatuck, when asked how he liked the event. "It's a good thing for all the people here." Thibodeau is a Navy veteran who served on a destroyer during the Korean war.

"Terrific," said James Santos, of Pawcatuck, when asked the same question. "They're doing a wonderful job." Santos served in an Army gun battalion during the Korean War.

The veterans were also entertained by talented students such as senior Molly Rathbun, who played dinner music on her saxophone, and the student group Nothin' But ACapella, who sang the national anthem.

Simmons, the after-dinner speaker, noted that when he was drafted into the Vietnam War, he did so at a time when the public was angry with soldiers returning from the war. He recalled being stationed in California where he was cautioned to change into civilian clothes before he left the base.

But on Thursday night he was having none of that.

"Welcome home, brothers," he said to his fellow Vietnam vets. "Welcome home."