"I am glad we are back in person, and a lot of our veterans are glad to be back too," said Pequea Valley Intermediate School (PVIS) administrator Bill Darras. In 2020, the PVIS Veterans Day appreciation event was held virtually, but this year, nearly 20 local veterans visited the school on Nov. 11 for a series of activities, including a luncheon, a musical presentation, and a chance to tell their stories.
PVIS Student Council members met with veterans in the school lobby and escorted them to a luncheon and conversation in the library. Darras had reached out to veterans in the community in a variety of ways, including asking students to invite family members. "One veteran (who is with us here) served 22 years in the Navy," noted Darras, who added that with the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine veterans present, a total of 106 years of service was represented.
Following the luncheon, the students escorted the veterans to the gymnasium for an assembly, which included the national anthem played by the Brave Sounds concert band and "God Bless America" sung by faculty member Alicia Trescavage. Darras then welcomed the gathering and introduced teacher Taylor Croft, who spoke about the history of Veterans Day and noted that the occasion honors veterans who gave selflessly. "We can scarcely imagine their sacrifices," Croft said. "We owe these veterans a tremendous debt of gratitude."
Following Croft's speech, Student Council president Isabella Biddle spoke briefly, asking each veteran to stand as she introduced him or her including the branch of service and number of years each served. "To me, Veterans Day is about honoring all the veterans who have served our country. Without them, we would not be where we are today," she said.
Student Naomi Brumbach welcomed all veterans on behalf of the band and introduced the "Marches of the Armed Forces," inviting each veteran to stand when the song representing his or her branch of the service was played.
Learner Nathaniel Sensenig discussed the history of taps and how it came to represent the loss of those killed in action. Taps was played by student Spencer Groff.
Trescavage and eighth-grade student Cam Frank also sang a duet of "In Flanders Fields" set to music.
Darras reported that after the assembly, veterans accompanied students to classrooms where veterans spoke on their service and answered questions. Following that interaction, students went to the cafeteria to assemble gift baskets and write thank you cards to the veterans. Army vehicles were parked in the school parking lot for the veterans to see before leaving.
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