Siegfried Elementary School held a special Veterans Day event Nov. 11 for veterans of the community. The special guests, many in their 70s, served in both war and peacetime, abroad and stateside. The veterans sat with children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren for a patriotic-themed breakfast and program.

Seated with their family members, the young girls and boys embraced their elder family members as their heroes.

The morning began with the national anthem played by a student on the saxophone. The girls and boys chorus sang several traditional patriotic songs and a rendition of “I’m Proud to Be an American.” Their voices filled the entire room, and the music was received with a resounding burst of applause by the veterans.

The walls of the large room had red, white and blue decorations. Messages were fastened to the walls in remembrance of their family heroes.

The program turned emotional when the lights darkened and, on a large screen, the photo and name of each veteran present, most in military gear and uniform from their active duty, were shown.

For LeRoy Brobst, a Vietnam veteran, the breakfast program was bittersweet.

“I am with my grandson, the last of three grandchildren at Siegfried Elementary,” he said.

“I am very impressed. This is great,” said Larry Schittler, with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4714, Northampton.

This was his first such breakfast with his granddaughter.

Renee Sallit, principal of Borough Elementary Schools, said the school will definitely be inviting veterans back for a breakfast and program next year.

Assistant Principal Douglas Sherman said the event “was a team effort” by the many teachers and staff.

As the veterans left, there were handshakes and words of thankfulness for their service.