These members of the HJHS Leadership Team shows some of the student art that will be used to decorate the Pettey Center for the school’s Veterans Day Celebration on Friday at 10:30 a.m. Pictured, from left, are Blakely Coffey, Hallie Nicholson, Will Grammer, Garrett Wade and Ethan Ellis. | Clif Knight

Hartselle Junior High School has announced plans for its annual Veterans Day Celebration.

The operative word is “change” for this year’s patriotic event.

Students and faculty will honor “All Who Served” on Fri., Nov. 8, at 10:30 a.m. in the J.C. Pettey Center on the Hartselle Junior High School campus.

“The school theme is “Leading the Way to New Traditions,” said librarian Beth Rabb, “and the changes that have been made to honor our veterans this year are in keeping with that theme.”

“Since for student body is smaller than it was before, we decided to allow students who have one or more veterans in their families to sit with them in the bleachers during the program. In addition, they are invited to have lunch together in the school cafeteria.”

“We always start our planning with a new list of veterans who have received invitations from students,” she added. “However, anyone in our area who is a veteran, whether or not they have children attending school here, is welcome.

Veterans are asked to assemble in the school library at 10 a.m. Parking will be provided in the Pettey Center parking lot. Pace Setters will be on duty to welcome guests and offer assistance.

Veterans will walk by a “Wall of Heroes” upon entering the Pettey Center and those invited by students are invited to remove the stars that were placed in their honor.

Students interviewed veterans and wrote essays and poems on the subject “Why They Fought” and those judged as winners will be read by their authors as a part of the program. The school band and chorus will perform and veterans will be recognized.

“We want the kids to understand the price of freedom and the call of duty,” Rabb stated.

Teacher Leah Roden serves as chairperson of the project committee. Dr. Mark Hendrix will serve as master of ceremonies.