MIDDLEBORO — The menu included hamburgers, hot dogs, pasta salad, watermelon slices — and a heaping side of gratitude.

Town employees braved temperatures in the mid-90s Thursday, June 20 to attend the second annual Employee Appreciation Cookout at Battis Field. Traditional summertime staples were served up by supervisors and select board members.

“This is a way to give back to our employees,’’ Town Manager James McGrail said as he scooped up strawberry shortcake.

“I love to see the smiles,’’ Select Board member Tom White said.

The cookout provided a chance to showcase “how much we appreciate the hard-working employees of our town,’’ Select Board Chair Mark Germain said.

For Plumbing and Gas Inspector Jay Catalano, his 19 years on the job has created a sense of camaraderie. “It’s a good place,’’ he said of his Middleboro employment. “It’s good when you enjoy coming to work.’’

Tracey Hewins of the Veterans Services office described the cookout as “wonderful. It’s good for morale and bonding. It’s nice when upper management recognizes and acknowledges’’ employees.

Council on Aging employee Kathy Tobin said she appreciated the chance to relax and enjoy time with colleagues.  “Everybody deserves a break,’’ she noted.

Employees were honored for reaching milestones in service time.

Ten-year employees saluted were: David Howard, police department; Kevin Frazier, police department; Matthew Mansir, police department; Amanda Meyer, library; Regina Bissonnette, Council on Aging and Tyler Silva, police department.

Twenty-year employees honored were: Susan Powers, treasurer/collector’s department; Antonio Botta, police department; Nathan Ferbert, police department; Lionel Lacasse Healey, fire department; Michael Dimond, fire department; Timothy Andrews, fire department; and Matthew Foye, facilities and police department.

Thirty-year employees recognized were: Todd Goldman, public works department; and Tammy Mendes, zoning/building department.

Goldman started in 1994, when he was a new father. Now that child is 30 and he remains on the job.

That is no coincidence, he said.

“I work with great people,’’ he said. “It’s the people that keep you around.’’

Sgt. Ferbert always hoped to be a police officer, he said, and “Middleboro was the only place I wanted to work.’’

Sgt. Botta noted that “it’s amazing how fast it goes. It’s been an honor working for the department.’’