Mill Road honors Veterans Day with performances, crafts

Thomas Weckesser sat on at a table Thursday morning next to two of his grandchildren and watched a third sing “Thank You, Soldiers.”

Mill Road Elementary School welcomed dozens of former service members for its annual Veterans Day celebration, held in the 3-5 cafeteria.

Many of the veterans had children or grandchildren in the school, who were allowed to sit with each other when not performing. Others were members Red Hook VFW Post 7765 invited to the show.

Weckesser, an Army veteran, held a phone up to record the performance as he smiled.

“It’s great,” he said, noting before the two fourth-grade grandchildren sitting beside him he would come each year to see his grandson who is now at Linden Avenue Middle School. “I’ve done every one of these with him, and now these guys are coming up … I got a few more years to attend here.”

Principal Dr. Brian Boyd welcomed the veterans at the beginning of the event, offering an introduction. He mentioned to them the Raider Profile that guides the lessons inside the school; to be “caring, show empathy, communicate effectively, problem solving, thinking critically, being concerned about the world around us. These are the very same qualities that exemplify the character of our veterans,” he said.

“As we honor all of you today,” Boyd said, “we hope that our students are inspired by your example.”

The third, fourth, and fifth grades took turns singing patriotic songs, such as “Anchors Away” and “The Marines’ Hymn.” New this year, with the Mill Road schools merged to include grades pre-K to 5, younger students also took part in the celebration. The first and second grade students joined to sing “Thank You, Soldiers,” and the youngest students closed the show by going into the crowd and giving out handmade cards.

The cafeteria was decorated similarly with student-created decorations, including large banners for each of the branches of the service, which included facts about each. Food and drinks were also provided, including a tray of strawberries, blueberries and cream arranged to look like an American flag.

“We’re honored you could come,” Boyd said as the roughly 45-minute show wrapped up, “and for everything you’ve done for our country.”