"Thank you for keeping us safe. We honor you. Thank you for protecting our country." Those are some of the things students at Donegal Primary School (DPS) want veterans to know. Students, accompanied by veterans, participated in a parade through the school hallways on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

"We had about 80 students that brought grandparents, parents, aunts/uncles, etc., that were veterans," said Taylor Morgan, the DPS music teacher who helped to coordinate the event. "We also had a few students' families come to participate in the parade in honor of a family veteran who had passed. I think that by having each veteran's DPS student march in the parade with them, other students were able to make a greater connection with who we honor on Veterans Day."

Last year, the school held a drive-through parade, which was well-received by students and teachers, said Sarah Bair, second-grade teacher. "It was really fun and powerful for the students to be able to see the veterans drive past and wave to them," she commented. "The students enjoyed singing patriotic songs and honoring the people who fought for our country. This year, we planned to take it inside, in case of rain, with the same concept of the veterans parading and the students cheering them on."

Morgan noted that students learned two patriotic songs for the event - "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "This Land Is Your Land." Classes were recorded singing the songs, and the recordings were made into a CD that was played at the parade. "Students really enjoyed these songs and sang their hearts out at the parade," she remarked.

Students also wrote letters to the veterans as part of the event. "The teachers knew which students from their class were bringing veterans, so the letters could be personalized for the veterans from their classroom," Bair said. "I think this makes it even more powerful for the students to know they are writing to someone's mom, dad or grandpa."

Carter Howe, a second-grader, brought his grandpa, Barry Howe. "I was nervous," Carter said of the parade. "There were so many people!" He noted, however, that his Papa really enjoyed the parade. Second-grader Betty Bishop brought her mother, Phyllicia Bishop, to walk in honor of Betty's father Joshua Bishop and grandfather Robert Bishop. "I had fun and loved being able to honor my dad and grandpa," Betty said.

Not only did she have fun at the parade, but second-grader Leah Jones noted that her guests - her father Frank Jones II and her grandfather Frank Jones Jr.- especially enjoyed the event. "My dad and Popop were surprised, and the parade was very special to them," Leah said.

School counselor Lyndsay Kieffer noted that the parade is important to the school on an individual, building and community level, adding that giving students the chance to spend time with the veterans in their families makes it extra special. "It is wonderful to teach about being thankful in life, and this is an opportunity to create a big connection for students," Kieffer said. "We want them to see the flag and remember to think about the people that have been, or are currently, on our front line protecting and serving our country."