Veterans honored during Haugen Elementary School program

The chairs were filled and dozens of people stood along edges of the gymnasium during a Veterans Day program at Haugen Elementary School.

Put on by the school and Brunclik-Konop American Legion Post 540 on Wednesday, Nov. 11, it’s the last Veterans Day program with the school district set to close Haugen Elementary at the end of the school year.

Following the posting of the colors and the “Pledge of Allegiance,” Commander Ken Nelson provided an invocation and opening remarks. Nelson asked Haugen Elementary students if they knew what a veteran is, the six branches of the military, the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day and why the day is recognized on Nov. 11?

“Whether home eating, sleeping, watching television or playing video games, the branches of the military are defending your freedom around the world,” Nelson told the kids.

Third- and fourth-grade students presented a skit about Betsy Ross’ creation of the U.S. flag, followed the folding of the flag by veterans Bob Beffa and Mark Larson as Nelson spoke about the meaning of each fold.

All the students together held U.S. flags and sang “The Brave” thanking veterans for their service, sacrifice and bravery. Nelson then answered questions from the kids, including why Veterans Day was created, the meaning of parts of their uniforms and the colors on the flag.

Veterans were all asked to salute the flag as third- and fourth-graders sang the “Star Spangled Banner,” and then the program was closed with the Honor Guard departing with the retiring of the colors.