Generations stood between them, but they shared the bonds of military service.
Amid weekend celebrations marking St. Patrick’s Day and the evacuation of British soldiers from the city during the Revolutionary War, several sailors on Saturday toured South Boston to meet local veterans and thank them for their service.
The sailors are stationed aboard the USS Thomas Hudner, a destroyer that was commissioned in Boston in 2018 and docked in the city for a port visit.
The ship is named for the late Thomas J. Hudner Jr., a Navy pilot from Fall River who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his efforts to save a fellow pilot during the Korean War.
Maxwell Abishai, 46, command chaplain for the vessel, said he wanted to express his gratitude to soldiers who served before him.
“One day, all of us will be veterans,’’ said Abishai. “I think it’s an honorable thing to do.’’
The meet-and-greet sessions for the visiting sailors and local veterans were organized by the city’s Veterans Services department and made stops at the Thomas J. Fitzgerald VFW Post 561, a housing development for veterans, and a facility that cares for people with memory loss.
The visits introduced the sailors to some veterans who served during World War II, which reshaped the global order and transformed the United States into an international superpower. Veterans of the conflict now number about 66,000, a sliver of the 16.4 million Americans who served, according to government estimates.
Joe Johnson, a damage controlman petty officer 1st class from Virginia Beach, Va., said this was his first time meeting with local veterans during a port visit. Johnson said his father served in the Navy and his grandfather served in the Army.
“I have a big military background so this is kind of giving back, learning from other people, hearing stories,’’ said Johnson.
The tour began at the Fitzgerald post, where City Councilor Ed Flynn, a Navy veteran from South Boston, welcomed the visiting sailors to the neighborhood.
Robert Santiago, commissioner of veterans services in Boston, presented the post with a certificate of appreciation from the city.
Santiago, also a Navy veteran, told the gathering that military service is a lifelong endeavor.
“We don’t stop our service once we hang up our uniform. It continues,’’ he said. “We always serve after we hang up our uniform.’’
The first stop was Patriot Homes, a residential development for veterans that opened in 2016.
Abishai sat on the patio with Joe Peacock, 85, an Air Force veteran who spent time on active and reserve duty from 1956 to 1962.
“I loved being in the service. I loved the camaraderie I had in there,’’ Peacock said.
He said he appreciated the sailors’ visit.
“It’s good to see these guys,’’ Peacock said.
Jack Tegart, 23, a sailor from Wausau, Wis., said his grandfather is an Air Force veteran who served in the Vietnam War. He recalled drinking Cokes at a VFW post in his hometown where his grandfather is a member.
“I just love meeting veterans, talking, sharing stories,’’ said Tegart.
Santiago presented certificates of appreciation to the veterans at Patriot Homes and Abishai offered a prayer.
Joseph Gateley, an Army veteran who lives at the development, said he was eager to meet the sailors.
“You’re signing up to go into the service. No one is pushed into joining so these people all volunteer,’’ he said. “They know there’s a chance of a conflict while they’re in the service. It’s amazing how people still come forward to do this.’’
Stephen Greig, 73, an Army veteran, said he spent some time speaking with Johnson, telling him about the neighborhood and life at Patriot Homes.
“South Boston always remembers their veterans,’’ he said. “We never forget our own.’’
The next stop was Compass on the Bay, an assisted living facility for residents with memory loss and dementia.
There the sailors met a pair of women who served in the Coast Guard, Yolanda Cerullo and Maysel Galiga. Both are aged 101.
The family of Robert Byron, a Navy veteran, was visiting him when the sailors stopped by.
Byron’s son, Christopher, said his father made good friends in the Navy and takes pride in his service.
“It’s great to see these volunteers coming and dedicating their time to come and honor the people that came before them,’’ he said.
David Gonzalez, 31, who is temporarily assigned to the USS Thomas Hudner, said his grandfather served in the Army and inspired him to get into public service.
He said he enjoyed speaking with the Navy veterans.
“It’s like traveling through history,’’ said Gonzalez, who is from Detroit. “Listening to their points of view, all the places they’ve been to, all the things that they’ve seen, experiences they’ve had. It’s just awesome.’’
Laura Crimaldi can be reached at laura.crimaldi@globe.com. Follow her @lauracrimaldi.