St. James School in Danielson welcomed 24 veterans from all branches of the military for “Take a Vet to School Day.” Veterans ranging from those currently serving to those who served as far back as World War II, Korea, and Vietnam joined us. The day began with an opening ceremony led by Principal Reed, who offered a prayer for veterans. Kindergarten teacher Kim Barrette sang the National Anthem, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Two students read an essay—a heartfelt collection of thoughts from the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders on the meaning of a veteran.
The ceremony concluded with a rendition of “God Bless America,” after which veterans visited classrooms to share their service experiences. They rotated among classes and ended their visit with lunch alongside their student hosts.
Students listened attentively, asked thoughtful questions, and presented thank-you cards to express their gratitude. It was a meaningful way to honor and thank our veterans, showing our deep respect and appreciation. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event. Thank you to all our veterans for your service!
Student Essay: What Does a Veteran Mean to Me?
Honor, courage, respect, perseverance… are words that true veterans live by. Men and women who have served our country deserve much respect. But what exactly is a veteran? It is someone who has served our country during times of war. A veteran is someone who was or is currently in the military. They live a disciplined life so that we don’t have to. They go off to war to ensure our freedom and protect our way of life. They are heroes to us, but to them they are just normal people. They are modest. They don’t look for publicity. They claim to be just doing their job. They state that real heroes are those who didn’t return from war. They will say if it wasn’t for the heroism of others they wouldn’t be standing here today. We are proud of our veterans who want no notoriety or fame. They are just doing their job. Veterans deserve our respect. They honor us with their presence today. They are men and women of courage and discipline. We honor those who serve or who are currently serving on Veteran’s Day. To conclude, veterans don’t ask for much. They at least deserve our respect and gratitude. They are just everyday people who turned into soldiers. We are proud of our family, friends, and those we don’t even know for serving our country. We thank you.