Students are never too young to celebrate Veterans Day.
“I think it’s important to honor our veterans, but it’s also important for our children to learn to honor our veterans and what they have done for our country,” Lincoln Elementary principal Jill Day said.
Lincoln hosted its third annual Veterans Day celebration Monday. The fifth-grade honor choir sang patriotic songs, and students invited veterans in their families to be honored.
“It’s pretty cool. All the vets are here. I was kind of nervous,” fifth-grader Brennan Clayton said.
Clayton’s grandfather attended the event as a veteran.
“My pappy was on the radio and got the radio signals in Vietnam,” Clayton said.
Fifth-grader Kaitlyn Bryant’s father and grandfather served in the Navy and both attended the event.
“(My dad) won a bunch of medals and sailed around the world, but I’ve been to the Atlantic Ocean and he hasn’t,” Bryant said.
Both students performed in the honor choir.
“I’m really thankful for all these veterans to come and see us so we can make them feel honored,” Bryant said.
“It was exciting. We sang to them and they were here to see us and we were here to commemorate them and what they did for our country,” Clayton said.
Soldiers still serving were also thought about during the celebration.
“Me and my brother (second-grader Joshua Cajina) are very proud of our dad,” said fourth-grader Jessica Cajina, whose dad is currently serving overseas.
Cajina sang the national anthem at last year’s program and appreciated this year’s musical tribute.
“It feels good that they’re singing for them and honoring the veterans for what they did,” Cajina said.
Having the veterans there to talk to brought the history alive for the children.
“We can teach history, but until they see it in real life, it’s hard for them to understand,” Day said.
Some were even inspired by the stories and think they may want to serve in the military.
“I want to join the Navy,” Bryant said.
The students, who will be participating in classroom activities throughout the week, really just want to say thank you to all the men and women who have served.
“I’d like to thank every veteran even if they weren’t here today and those that died in wars and those fighting now. I want to thank them all,” Clayton said.
Jennifer Lindsey
221-6536
