Veterans Day Salutes from school children

  • Fourteen veterans visited Pine Mountain Learning Center (K-7th grade) last week. They were greeted with songs, flags and murals. In return, veterans shared their memories. [Mel Weinstein photos]

    Image 1 of 5
    Fourteen veterans visited Pine Mountain Learning Center (K-7th grade) last week. They were greeted with songs, flags and murals. In return, veterans shared their memories. [Mel Weinstein photos]

  • Photographer Mel Weinstein provided over a hundred images from the visit, creating a moving record of generations passing along gifts of memory, honor, patriotism and service.

    Image 2 of 5
    Photographer Mel Weinstein provided over a hundred images from the visit, creating a moving record of generations passing along gifts of memory, honor, patriotism and service.

  • Fourteen veterans visited Pine Mountain Learning Center (K-7th grade) last week. They were greeted with songs, flags and murals. In return, veterans shared their memories. [Mel Weinstein photos]

    Image 3 of 5
    Fourteen veterans visited Pine Mountain Learning Center (K-7th grade) last week. They were greeted with songs, flags and murals. In return, veterans shared their memories. [Mel Weinstein photos]

  • Veterans were welcomed to the modest but dynamic PMLC campus with a warmhearted display of murals, gifts, speeches, handshakes, songs and, for the vets, a few tears.

    Image 4 of 5
    Veterans were welcomed to the modest but dynamic PMLC campus with a warmhearted display of murals, gifts, speeches, handshakes, songs and, for the vets, a few tears.

  • Richard Hoegh, 91 arrived with friends, greeted other veterans, and told students of World War II. Photographer Mel Weinstein provided hundreds of images from the visit, creating a moving record of generations passing along gifts of memory, honor, patriotism and service.

    Image 5 of 5
    Richard Hoegh, 91 arrived with friends, greeted other veterans, and told students of World War II. Photographer Mel Weinstein provided hundreds of images from the visit, creating a moving record of generations passing along gifts of memory, honor, patriotism and service.

Fourteen veterans were honored by the students of Pine Mountain Learning Center on Friday, Nov. 9.

World War II veteran Richard Hoegh, 91 told his stories of serving in Europe as students eagerly asked questions. A display of veterans’ souvenirs—Army boots, water canteens, uniforms and pictures of veterans who have passed on—were shared.

Students sang "America the Beautiful" and "This Land is Your Land," which brought out emotions for many. PMLC Student Leadership officers stood to speak heartfelt gratitude to our veterans. Each classroom decorated their door to honor veterans on this special day and each guest was given a red, white and blue painted pinecone with handmade cards of appreciation for the veterans’ sacrifices for our country.

—Reported by Elaine Salmon

This is part of the November 16, 2012 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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