TUNKHANNOCK, Pa. — Veterans and their families were invited to an annual Veterans Day program Thursday at Tunkhannock High School in Wyoming County.
The football stadium at the high school had a somber feel to it, as students and community members came together to remember and honor area veterans.
"It is something we take a lot of pride in, our students take pride in, and we're really honored to demonstrate our appreciation to our American veterans," said Tunkhannock High School Principal Todd Bosscher.
One of those veterans is 95-year-old World War II veteran Norman Werkheiser. He appreciates that the students and school put on this ceremony each year.
"It keeps your memory going, and it keeps the thing you think about, things that you really had forgotten about, and it's a wonderful time," said Werkheiser.
Several students took part in the ceremony, and the marching band and choir performed patriotic songs to honor those veterans in attendance.
"They risked everything, their lives and their families and everything they really have for everybody else to still be living," said eighth-grader Callum Jerome.
Jerome wrote a speech about Veterans Day. Both of his grandfathers are veterans, and he wanted to express his thanks to those who have served their country.
"They are kind of inspiring others, not only their genuine generation but our generation, to stand up and possibly inspire some other people to join the military when they get older," Jerome said.
"In each graduating class, we have quite a few students who enter the military in one branch or the other. And so there's a strong presence here in our school and in our community. And that's what makes Tunkhannock such a tight-knit community because there's a relationship between the veterans and our school," Bosscher added.
The event was streamed live on YouTube.