Lubeck Elementary kindergarten students dress up as members of the United States Air Force on Wednesday at Lubeck Community Baptist Church for the school’s Veterans Day event. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

LUBECK — Lubeck Elementary held its 21st annual Veterans Day event Wednesday at Lubeck Community Baptist Church.

“It started out small, like 10 veterans and punch and cookies, and it’s come to where we have almost 90 veterans coming today,” teacher and organizer Paula Delong said. “It’s grown every year, and our relationship with this church has helped a lot with this program.”

The day began with a hot lunch served to veterans that included pulled pork and much more.

“Baked potato, corn, beans, rolls–all the fixings. They deserve it,” Delong said.

Cheryl Hasburger, Lubeck Elementary fifth grade teacher, welcomed veterans to the ceremony after students made the short walk from the school to the church.

Lubeck Elementary teacher Paula Delong gives members of the Marine Corps Veteran Association a check for $238 on Wednesday at Lubeck Community Baptist Church for the school’s Veterans Day event. Students raised funds by selling flags as part of their service project. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“Being able to celebrate our local veterans is a privilege that we at Lubeck School do not take lightly,” Hasburger said. “Whether you were involved in active duty or gave years of your lives and spent time away from your families, we would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

She said special emphasis is given on teaching patriotism to the younger generations.

“Gratitude is a skill that must be taught, and each year, we cherish the opportunity to teach our students why we should be grateful to our veterans, and they love being able to participate in honoring you,” Hasburger said.

Delong said students have been learning about veterans and the importance of Veterans Day.

“We’ve been teaching our students all week about the importance of sacrifice that our veterans have made and the importance of our freedom,” she said.

Lubeck Elementary students perform “You Are Our Heroes” on Wednesday at Lubeck Community Baptist Church for the school’s Veterans Day event. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

The entire student body, from pre-K through fifth grade, participated in the festivities and activities included making hats and crafts and featured performances by the choir–singing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “You Are Our Heroes,” and “God Bless America.”

“They learned to sign ‘God Bless America.’ They’ve been practicing psalms in music class and then making hats and other things to wear to come over today,” Delong said. “Of course, we’ve read about what it means to be a veteran.”

Delong said there was also a special presentation by the school’s kindergarten class.

“We have little kindergartners dressing up as each branch, and they’ll be marching in with flags. So each branch member will be standing when their branch song comes on,” Delong said.

Delong said community involvement remained at the heart of the event. She said each grade level does a service project, and the second grade project included selling flags to be placed out front of the church.

Members of the Parkersburg South High School JROTC present the flag on Wednesday at Lubeck Community Baptist Church during Lubeck Elementary School’s Veterans Day event. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“People send in money to honor or remember a veteran,” Delong said.

This year, the group presented a $234 check to the Marine Corps Veteran Association, a group deeply connected to Delong.

“My dad was part of this group, and he passed away last year. So this group means a lot to me,” Delong said.

The event stood as a testament to community, remembrance and gratitude, ensuring veterans’ sacrifices are honored and celebrated.

“Our country may be greatly divided on many issues, but we here today can agree that we love and appreciate our veterans,” Hasburger said. “We can pause from all the conflict in our world and look around in this space filled with veterans and future veterans, and continue to hope that our nation always stands for freedom.”

Lubeck Elementary second-grade students perform “God Bless America” in American Sign Language on Wednesday at Lubeck Community Baptist Church for the school’s Veterans Day event. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentienl.com