Jefferson Middle School fifth graders, Justin Green, Nick Melendez and Makye Roberts, thank U.S. Marine Corp Veteran, Don Kell, during their Veteran’s Day Celebration. Submitted photo

Jefferson Middle School fifth-graders from Gina Hess’s classroom held a gathering on Nov. 9 to honor local veterans for Veterans Day. Students served veterans breakfast and beverages. In addition, they entertained them with songs, poems and stories, to thank them for their service to our country.

“Thank you all for joining us this morning,” said Jefferson Middle School Principal Chad Bongiovanni. “Something that we try to do at Jefferson is make learning real for our students offering them real-life opportunities to make connections to what they are reading about in the classroom. One thing we want our students to know is that Monday isn’t just a day off from school; that there is a lot of meaning behind why they get the day off. This opportunity to sit and chat with you gives them a perspective on what it means to be a veteran and serve our country. Thank you for you service to our country.”

The Veterans’ Gathering is an annual tradition for this class at Jefferson Middle School. The tradition has lasted for about 17 years. The celebration is something that both the students and veterans really love.

“It is important for students to understand the significance of this holiday,” said Mrs. Hess. “Students get a better understanding of the sacrifices that veterans have made for our freedom. We like this day to help show our gratitude to the veterans for their dedication to our country. The veterans speak of teamwork and discipline that their military lives have taught them. Hopefully, our students will think of these learning experiences in all their future endeavors.”