United States Congressman Barney Frank bid farewell to Wareham on Sunday, adding that he hopes to come back and visit.

The Wareham Democratic Town Committee along with the Plymouth County Democratic League honored Frank during its Annual Lobster and Chicken Cookout on Sunday, July 22, at the Dudley L. Brown VFW in Onset.

Frank represents the Massachusetts fourth district which includes parts of Plymouth County including Wareham. Frank will be retiring from the House of Representatives on January 2 of next year.

Frank started representing Wareham in 1993 after the boundaries for the congressional districts were moved. He has been serving Wareham for almost 20 years.

"I just came here today because the people in Wareham and the people in Plymouth County have been such good friends," said Frank. "I just had to come and tell you how grateful I am and I look forward to staying in touch."

"The people in this town, particularly the people in the Democratic Town Committee, have been great friends," said Frank before the event. "And the people really care about public policy. They are people that really care about fairness and about working people."

Also in attendance were Congressman Bill Keating, Plymouth Country Register of Deeds John Buckley, Jr., U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren and many others.

Warren and others used the opportunity to congratulate Frank on his marriage to partner Jim Ready on July 7.

"Barney teaches us so many things. He teaches us that good things can come from political events," said Warren with a smile. "And that's where Barney and Jim met. So congratulations on your wedding."

Wareham Democratic Town Committee members also presented Frank with gifts to congratulate him on his wedding. Frank added that he though he is an elected official he has been given permission to receive wedding gifts. One of those gifts were tickets to a Cape Cod Canal Cruise.

Miss Massachusetts Taylor Kinzler and Miss Massachusetts Outstanding Teen Amy de Silva also performed during the event.

Democratic representatives and officials used the opportunity talk about the importance of gearing up for the upcoming November election.

They also thanked Frank for his service.

"People get so caught up in who they are more than what they are doing," said Jane Donahue, a member of the town committee and former Chair of the Wareham Board of Selectmen.

"Barney never got caught up in who he was. He was always more interested in what he could do for other people," she said.