A large crowd of community residents came out to Glade Elementary School Wednesday to recognize veterans.

Principal Steve Musgrove said Glade Elementary’s Veterans Day Program has become a community event.

“It’s something we do each year to just recognize those who have served our country and those who are still serving our country,” Musgrove said. “It’s an important day for us all.”

Mrs. Priscilla Burgess, the music director at the elementary school, coordinated and directed the special program.

The third and fourth grade classes at Glade Elementary put on the program for the special day. From singing the songs “American Tears” to “Mighty United” and “The Star Spangle Banner,” the young people delighted the crowd with their voices and patriotic speeches.

Burgess said the program was a culmination of activities designed to educate the young people and show respect and honor to veterans.

“We do this every year,” Burgess said. “My father is a World War II veteran and my husband’s father is a veteran, and this day is special to us also.

“The day is designed to show honor and gratitude to those who keep our country safe,” she said. “I want to show respect to our veterans, and we do so through our program and activities.”

Burgess said prior to Veterans’ Day, the students studied the different wars that the country has been involved in and did papers on them. The students also studied about the Statute of Liberty and the presidents of the United States.

Nine-year-old Caleb got to dress up as the nation’s first president, George Washington, and sing in the program.

Caleb said he loved participating in the program.

“The singing was great,” he said. “Ms. Burgess taught us very well and I learned a lot.”

Cynthia Brewer, the school’s guidance counselor, said the Veterans’ Day Program “is a great opportunity for our children to meet veterans and to learn what they have done for us.”

Brewer said the students are also encouraged to go home and ask questions about family members who served in the military.

“It’s a fun day, but also a learning day for us all,” she said. “It’s one thing to read about it in a textbook, but it’s another thing to live it.”