VALDOSTA – More than 150 veterans were honored as middle school students at Valwood School hosted the school’s 15th annual Veterans Day program Tuesday morning.

Sixteen years ago, a Valwood middle school student from Vallye Blanton’s class wrote a letter to thank World War II veteran John McGowan for his service.

Blanton, the program coordinator, said McGowan was so touched that he came to the school to eat lunch with the student and had announced that receiving the letter was his first time being thanked as a veteran. The next year Blanton coordinated the school’s first ceremony with about 30 veterans in attendance and it has continued to grow each year.

The Valwood School campus faculty, staff and students welcomed incoming veterans before they set food into the Rodgers Performance Hall where veterans sat with loved ones and other retired or active servicemen of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

Head Master John L. Davis Sr. opened the program welcoming guests. He said, “I’m so proud of what our students are learning during this process. This is what defines Valwood. We will continue to honor you all.”

Valwood middle school students performed their own scripts that highlighted the importance of freedom within the United States of America and what costs servicemen bravely pay to protect the nation.

“A veteran is someone who has fought for our country. A veteran would sacrifice anything for our freedom. Without veterans America would not be the same. Veterans make us the land of the free because of the brave,” Marli Kate Moorman said.

Michael Drumheller quoted Audie Murphy, “The true meaning of America, you ask? It’s in a Texas rodeo, in a policeman’s badge, in the sound of laughing children, in a political rally, in a newspaper…In all these things, and many more, you’ll find America. In all these things, you’ll find freedom. and freedom is what America means to the world.”

Students who performed solos, duets or group musical selections were Jacks Dean, Carolyn Griner, Kennedy Paylo, Sara Daugharty, Anabelle Musgrove, Elle Scruggs, Susan Jordan, Jed Respess, Kreea Chakraborty, Chapman Dasher, Eliza Jane Monroe, Mary Blake McLeod, Abi Brooks, Carrigan Collins, Charlotte Holloway, Wesley Blanchard, Cannon Brantley, Mason C. Corbett, and Asher Wells.

The program was well received from attending veterans, their family members, community leaders and families of children participating in the program. Tears were shed and heads bobbed while several attendees stood in support through the chorus songs such as “America, the Beautiful,” “Grand Old Flag,” “God Bless America” and “God Bless the U.S.A.”

The chorus consisted of sixth and seventh graders and some upper school students assisted and performed throughout the ceremony as well.

A few veterans even sang and recited their beloved armed forces song with the students prior to the program’s closure.