Veterans and those in active military duty and reserves are invited to be recognized and thanked during Liberty Elementary’s Veterans Day assembly.

“We’re asking our students to reach out to any veterans and active-duty members they know to come to the program as well as we’re inviting those in our community,” said Jessica DeMann, Liberty’s instructional coach. “Our students are learning about the different branches of the military and they’re practicing the different songs of the branches of military to sing at the program.”

The assembly will begin at 9:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 10 on Liberty Elementary’s multipurpose room, 140 W. 6100 South.

During each of the armed forces’ anthems, the honorees will be asked to stand or wave to be recognized for their service, she said, adding that each one of them in attendance will receive an American flag lapel pin.

In addition to the military branches’ songs, students will perform patriotic songs and will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

Liberty students also will be writing patriotic-themed essays before the program and a few students will be selected to share their compositions during the assembly.

During the program, a PowerPoint of the student body’s relatives who are serving or have served in the military will be shown. The event has been held for more than six years.

DeMann said it’s her favorite program of the year.

“This helps the kids know that we’re proud of those who have fought for our freedoms and that we are so lucky to live in a community where we have the freedoms that we have, because not everyone enjoys the same freedoms we do,” said DeMann, who has an uncle on reserve and grandparents and great-grandparents who served in the military. “It’s just amazing to highlight these men and women who give up everything to fight for our freedom. I like the quote, ‘Land of the free because of the brave’ because it teaches our students that we’re enjoying our freedom because we have a lot of people who are willing to fight for them and fight for our country.”

As of press deadline, other area elementary schools hosting Veterans Day programs include at 9:15 a.m., Nov. 8, at Horizon, 5180 S. 700 West; 7 p.m., Nov. 8 at Longview Elementary, 6240 South Longview Drive (560 East); 9 a.m., Nov. 10 at McMillan, 315 E. 5900 South; and at 3 p.m., Nov. 10 at Woodstock, 6015 S. 1300 East.  λ