Second grade teacher Debra Berry leads the first rank of marchers in the Crestline Elementary School Veterans Day Parade on Thursday. | Clif Knight

Crestline Elementary School celebrated Veterans Day Thursday with a flag-waving patriotic program presented by fourth grade students.

Students from other grades lined the hallways outside of their classrooms and waved American flags and cheered as the fourth graders, accompanied by veterans, marched through the hallways en route to the commons area.

The student-led program, directed by fourth grade teacher Debra Berry, was attended by 21 veterans. They were applauded as a group and each was asked to stand and introduce himself, tell what branch of the military service he was in and make comments about his time of service.

Afterwards, 17 students with military backgrounds stood and displayed photos of veterans in their families who were unable to attend. They also identified the photos of their military heroes and told when and where they served. They included several grandfathers and great-grandfathers who served in WWII.

The students also led the audience in the singing of the National Anthem and sang “Stars and Stripes, and “America the Beautiful.”

Guest speaker U.S. Army Col. Thomas M. Brown (Ret) spoke briefly of his 33-year military career and introduced the student to the late Joe Foss, a WW II fighter pilot who served with the U.S. Marine Corp. He was a Medal of Honor recipient who went on to become a governor and help establish the American Football League and the Super Bowl.”

“Patriotism is an important part of our nation,” he said, “and we see it being demonstrated here today.”