On his last drive through the city before boarding a plane to join the Marines in 1979, Kenneth Perry and three other recruits stopped in South Boston. It was the last place they wanted to be.

“We were black. We were like, ‘No man. We’re not going to South Boston. You can forget that,’ ’’ said Perry, 58, who had been bused as a student from Dorchester to Hyde Park during the desegration of the city’s public schools.

But the recruiter — who needed to pick up another aspiring soldier in South Boston — found a way to calm his passengers’ nerves, Perry said. He reached under his seat, showed the recruits a pistol, and told them not to worry.

They picked up the white recruit without incident and then boarded a plane at Logan International Airport. to Parris Island in South Carolina. Perry said serving in the military was an honor.

“It meant so much to me,’’ said Perry.

His experience was among the many stories shared Saturday at a city brunch honoring African-American veterans.

Over a meal that included fried haddock, salad, and collard greens, veterans reflected on the highs and lows of military service.

Some said they joined the armed forces to escape racism in Boston and find a better life. Others said wearing the uniform didn’t protect them from racial discrimination.

James Flattes, 83, who joined the Army in 1950, said some white soldiers called him a boy. The military, he said, taught him important lessons about racism.

“How to ignore it. How to take care of it,’’ said Flattes, who lives in Dorchester.

The city hosted the gathering at the William E. Carter American Legion Post 16 in Mattapan, which was established nearly 100 years ago by 15 black veterans.

It is the oldest African-American post in the American Legion, said Mary-dith Tuitt, a Navy veteran who helps lead the group.

Perry, who owns Perry’s Gourmet Catering Service in Dorchester, has provided food for the event, now in its second year.

“It’s an honor to do this,’’ he said. “It’s long overdue that black veterans are getting recognized.’’

Mayor Martin J. Walsh thanked the veterans for their bravery, self-sacrifice, and commitment. He promised to help veterans transition smoothly into civilian life.

“The city of Boston is going to support people and support you no matter what,’’ he said.

Fire Commissioner Joseph Finn, and police Superintendent-in-Chief William Gross also addressed the gathering, updating the crowd about the city’s efforts to diversify its police and firefighting forces.

The event also included a town hall-style forum in which veterans shared their stories.

“One of the most important things a community can do to support its veterans is listen to their stories without judgment and share that history,’’ said Giselle Sterling, the city’s commissioner of veterans services.

Benny White, 73, said he was getting into trouble on the streets of Mission Hill when he joined the Marines in 1962. He skipped his graduation ceremony from Boston Technical High School to travel to Parris Island for boot camp, he said.

“It grows you up real quick,’’ said White, who lives in Hyde Park. “You don’t realize how valuable you are to the United States.

He said he refuses to think of what his life would have been like if he hadn’t joined the Marines.

“I won’t even speculate. I was in a lot of trouble as a 16, 17-year-old kid,’’ he said. “My life would have been totally different.’’

Now he’s the commanding officer for Massachusetts 54th Regiment Company A, a nonprofit group of re-enactors who honor the African-American unit that fought for the Union Army during the Civil War.

“To finally see some recognition for African-Americans in the military is an awesome thing,’’ he said.

Laura Crimaldi can be reached at laura.crimaldi@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @lauracrimaldi.