Students at Jaindl Elementary School celebrated Veterans Day with a program full of patriotism and heartfelt thanks.

Students, faculty and staff wore their finest red, white and blue and gathered in the school’s gym, where they honored community members, friends and loved ones with songs, poems and presentations.

“We are here to honor our service members and to remember their sacrifices they have made and the courage they have shown to defend our country,” Principal Diana Schantz said. “The men and women in front of us today are extraordinary individuals.

“They have responded to our nation’s call to serve, and we thank them for protecting our country and defending our freedoms.”

Students from each grade, from kindergarten through fifth, took turns showing their gratitude by performing an array of patriotic songs followed by a procession of the flags of each branch of the armed services.

State Rep. Gary Day, R-187th, also attended the ceremony and spoke genuinely to the students.

“I want to thank you, the students, all of you for participating in this program,” Day said.

“You honor veterans just by your presence here, just by coming to this wonderful event, by working with your music teachers and your talents to show them on this stage today. You bring tears to my eyes when you are here and you perform.”

He complimented the students on their teamwork and respect throughout the program.

“If they [these veterans] see what I see, they see a group of students who are engaged and taking advantage of the freedoms they believe they were fighting for,” Day said. “It shows respect to each of these veterans who are here today, that you care about this and are honoring veterans just by following the rules.

“They preserve our freedom and our freedom allows us to assemble here…..to study and to learn what you love, for what job you want to become to help and serve other people in your community.”

After completion of the program, Day presented each veteran with an engraved medal on behalf of his office and the entire Jaindl Elementary School community.