MISSOULA, Mont. — Veterans Day festivities began early Monday morning in Missoula with a breakfast at the American Legion Hellgate Post #27.

One of the former service members present Monday was Larry Anderson, a Vietnam War veteran.

“When I came home from Vietnam, I put my jungle gear in the closet and didn’t mention that I was a veteran for 20 years until I started getting involved in this project “Anderson said. “Kind of, don’t ask, don’t tell, you know, we just didn’t talk about our military service there.”

Anderson joined a local American Legion post and helped bring a Vietnam memorial to Missoula. On Veterans Day 2024, he proudly donned his American Legion cap.

Anderson and dozens of other veterans enjoyed a full breakfast. The post hosts this meal every month, but Monday’s attendance peaked at about 75 people.

“We’re sort of replicating the menu they knew in the army: bacon, eggs, pancakes. We have spam here,” said retired U.S. Army Col. Gary Swartz.

Swartz presented himself as both chef and dishwasher for these breakfasts. The culinary connoisseur said he was just trying to give back, as he was taught during his service.

On a day meant to honor people like Swartz and Anderson, both mentioned the idea of ​​giving back. For Anderson, it’s about helping veterans readjust to normal society and combating post-traumatic stress disorder.

It’s a remarkable change for a man who once left his fatigues and his recognition of his service in the closet.

“It was kind of like you could be proud of your service and you could wear your veteran’s cap or something without being called names,” Anderson said.